Abstract

A second-order theory is developed for the reflection and transmission of light by a slightly rough surface. The general results are discussed, especially for a rough interface between vacuum and a free-electron-like metal, where surface-plasma excitation can occur. The influence of the damping of the electron gas and of the shape of the roughness is discussed. Some different previous theories for reflection by a rough surface are shown to be limiting cases of the present theory.

© 1975 Optical Society of America

Average irregularity representation of a rough surface for ray reflection

T. S. Trowbridge and K. P. Reitz
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 65(5) 531-536 (1975)

Surface-Plasmon Effect in the Reflectance of a Metal*†

Julian Crowell and R. H. Ritchie
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 60(6) 794-799 (1970)

Transparency of pair-correlated, random distributions of small scatterers, with applications to the cornea*

Victor Twersky
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 65(5) 524-530 (1975)

Fresnel’s and Snell’s laws for the multimode optical waveguide of circular cross section

John D. Love and Allan W. Snyder
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 65(11) 1241-1247 (1975)

Second-order statistics of laser-speckle patterns*

M. G. Miller, A. M. Schneiderman, and P. F. Kellen
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 65(7) 779-785 (1975)