Multipolar and disorder effects in the optical properties of granular composites

We calculate the dielectric response of a one-dimensional system of polarizable spheres located at random. The calculation is done using numerical-simulation techniques with three different kinds of disorder algorithms, including high multipolar interactions and high filling fractions. Results for a spectral representation of the dielectric response and the absorption spectra of a system of metallic spheres are presented and discussed. Special attention is given to the role played by the disorder algorithm in systems with the same filling fraction.