is illuminated by a *z*-directed Gaussian beam, whose beam $w(z)\gg \lambda_0$ is represented in orange. The transverse radius of the cylinder is chosen to be much larger than the beam waist, to avoid edge diffraction. b) 3D representation of the forward scattered intensity $I({\mathbf{r}},\omega_0)=|{\mathbf{E}}({\mathbf{r}},\omega_0)|^2$ (with the value indicated in the colorbar) over a hemispherical surface far from the ensemble (the radius of this hemisphere is $35\lambda_0$), given an input resonant Gaussian beam. The intensity is calculated for a single, random atomic configuration. The system parameters used are: beam waist $w_0=3\lambda_0$, cylinder radius $l_{\text{cyl.}}=7 \lambda_0$ and thickness $d=2\lambda_0$. []{data-label="fig:system_representation"}](FINAL_scatt_cross_sec.png){width="\columnwidth"}

![**Simulated physical system.** a) A cylindrical ensemble of randomly distributed atoms (green points) is illuminated by a *z*-directed Gaussian beam, whose beam $w(z)\gg \lambda_0$ is represented in orange. The transverse radius of the cylinder is chosen to be much larger than the beam waist, to avoid edge diffraction. b) 3D representation of the forward scattered intensity $I({\mathbf{r}},\omega_0)=|{\mathbf{E}}({\mathbf{r}},\omega_0)|^2$ (with the value indicated in the colorbar) over a hemispherical surface far from the ensemble (the radius of this hemisphere is $35\lambda_0$), given an input resonant Gaussian beam. The intensity is calculated for a single, random atomic configuration. The system parameters used are: beam waist 