Calculation of the image of an arbitrary vectorial electromagnetic field

In order to rigorously calculate the image of a scattered field, it must be propagated into the far-field before vectorial focusing theory is applied. This approach may become difficult when, for example, the scattering object is embedded in a stratified medium, requiring calculation of the appropriate Green's tensor. We present a method for calculating the image of an arbitrary vectorial field by decomposing the field into a superposition of magnetic-dipole waves. We show that this technique can significantly simplify the calculation of the image of arbitrary vectorial fields even when the field is known within a stratified medium. The technique is more computationally efficient than existing methods however we also show that the method retains accuracy.