Optimal cubature on the sphere and other orientation averaging schemes

We propose an orientation averaging scheme which we call optimal cubature on the sphere to be used in light scattering computations. The cubature points are optimally arranged on the sphere to produce non-biased and fast convergence in scattering problems requiring numerical orientation averaging. We will compare performance against other possible schemes.

Research highlights► Numerical orientation averaging can be preferred over analytical method in some cases. ► Optimal Cubature on the Sphere proves to be an efficient method for averaging. ► Quasi-Monte Carlo and Lebedev-Laikov cubatures have also some good properties.