Local normal vector field formulation for periodic scattering problems formulated in the spectral domain

We present two adapted formulations, one tailored to isotropic media and one for general anisotropic media, of the normal vector field framework previously introduced to improve convergence near arbitrarily shaped material interfaces in spectral simulation methods for periodic scattering geometries. The adapted formulations enable the definition and generation of the normal vector fields to be confined to a region of prolongation that includes the material interfaces but is otherwise limited. This allows for a more flexible application of geometrical transformations like rotation and translation per scattering object in the unit cell. Moreover, these geometrical transformations enable a cut-and-connect strategy to compose general geometries from elementary building blocks. The entire framework gives rise to continuously parameterized geometries.