Abstract

The directional distribution of radiant flux reflected from roughened surfaces is analyzed on the basis of geometrical optics. The analytical model assumes that the surface consists of small, randomly disposed, mirror-like facets. Specular reflection from these facets plus a diffuse component due to multiple reflections and/or internal scattering are postulated as the basic mechanisms of the reflection process. The effects of shadowing and masking of facets by adjacent facets are included in the analysis. The angular distributions of reflected flux predicted by the analysis are in very good agreement with experiment for both metallic and nonmetallic surfaces. Moreover, the analysis successfully predicts the off-specular maxima in the reflection distribution which are observed experimentally and which emerge as the incidence angle increases. The model thus affords a rational explanation for the off-specular peak phenomenon in terms of mutual masking and shadowing of mirror-like, specularly reflecting surface facets.

© 1967 Optical Society of America

Polarization, Directional Distribution, and Off-Specular Peak Phenomena in Light Reflected from Roughened Surfaces

K. E. Torrance, E. M. Sparrow, and R. C. Birkebak
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 56(7) 916-925 (1966)

Reflection from a Periodic Dielectric Surface

H. F. Nelson and R. Goulard
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 57(6) 769-771 (1967)

Specular Reflection and Characteristics of Reflected Light*

Herbert B. Holl
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 57(5) 683-690 (1967)

Split off-specular reflection and surface scattering from woven materials

Sylvia C. Pont and Jan J. Koenderink
Appl. Opt. 42(8) 1526-1533 (2003)

Polarization Properties of a Simple Dielectric Rough-Surface Model

G. C. McCoyd
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 57(11) 1345-1350 (1967)