Abstract

Light scattering from randomly rough surfaces of relatively low root-mean-square (rms) slope and long correlation length (> λ) is well-understood, at least for moderate angles of incidence, in terms of physical optics (Kirchhoff) theory. However, until the past five years, there has been little experimental or theoretical work carried out on surfaces with a large rms slope for which multiple scattering occurs. One consequence of strong multiple scattering is the presence of an enhanced backscatter peak: this peak has a similar origin to that observed from strongly multiple scattering volume media, such as white paint, and analogous effects are observed in the propagation of light through turbulence in "double pass" geometries.

© 1992 Optical Society of America