Efficient evaluation of vector translation coefficients in multiparticle light-scattering theories (Q1384511)

The vector addition theorems are a necessary ingredient in the analytical solution of electromagnetic multiparticle-scattering problems. These theorems include a large number of vector addition coefficients. There exist three basic types of analytical expressions for vector translation coefficients: \textit{S. Stein} [Q. Appl. Math. 19, 15-24 (1961; Zbl 0131.30401)] (the coefficients can be evaluated from pertinent scalar translation coefficients), \textit{O. R. Cruzan} [ibid. 20, 33-40 (1962; Zbl 0133.32402)] (the formulas use the Wigner \(3jm\) symbol), \textit{Y. L. Xu} [J. Comput. Phys. 127, No. 2, 285-298 (1996); erratum ibid. 134, 200 (1997; Zbl 0885.65138)] (the expressions are based on the Gaunt coefficient). Also, we have \textit{D. W. Mackowski's} formulas [Proc. R. Soc. Lond., Ser. A 433, No. 1889, 599-614 (1991; Zbl 0738.33006)] which are of the Stein's type. In this paper it is shown that the four formulas produce generally the same numerical results for vector translation coefficients. But the numerical accuracies of the four different schemes are not always competitive in some cases, especially for the calculation of high-degree coefficients. The two schemes based on the Wigner \(3jm\) symbol and the Gaunt coefficients are satisfactorily accurate and more efficient than the other two. The author presents highly efficient recursive approaches to accurately evaluating Wigner \(3jm\) symbols and Gaunt coefficients. With a slight modification, this recursive approach can also be applied to the calculation of Clebsch-Gordan coefficients.