Light Scattering from Rough Surfaces
Abstract
A randomly rough surface illuminated by a parallel laser beam at some angle theta produces a speckle pattern in space. If the angle of illumination is changed to theta + change of theta then the speckle pattern changes in two ways: it translates in angle and changes its form in a manner that depends on the detailed surface characteristics and the angles involved. We have made experimental measurements of the angular correlation of speckle for two- dimensional Gaussian surfaces of low and high root-mean-square slope. In comparing with theory we have distinguished between surfaces for which single scattering is valid (very low slope) and those for which Kirchhoff theory is valid (larger rms slopes). A numerical ray-tracing approach has been implemented for two-dimensional surfaces that includes shadowing and polarization in a limited way. A conceptual, heuristic model is developed that explains the essential physical features.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 17, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA284112
Entities
People
- J. C. Dainty
Organizations
- Imperial College London