The theory, within the framework of continuum electromagnetic theory, of scattering and absorption of a plane, harmonic wave with arbitrary frequency and state of polarization by a homogeneous sphere of arbitrary size and composition. Mie theory describes in detail atmospheric optical phenomena such as rainbows, glories, and coronas. Because Gustav Mie in 1908 was not the first to treat scattering by an arbitrary sphere, the term Lorenz-Mie theory has come into use in recent years.