Article | REF: AF3458 V1

Diffusion of light through surfaces and volumes

Authors: Claude AMRA, Carole DEUMIÉ

Publication date: July 10, 2009

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ABSTRACT

The aim of this article is to provide theoretical and experimental tools in order to learn how to use the phenomena of light diffusion, which is little taught at the moment. And yet, light diffusion remains a key tool and governs a significant number of optical phenomena, including imaging and vision. It presents a perturbative approach characteristic of random media (slightly rough surfaces and volumes) responsible for a low diffusion in incident flux. The various cases of light diffusion are analyzed (parameters, wave amplitude and intensity) and illustrated by numerical examples. The article then deals with the measuring and applications of light diffusion trough a multiscale analysis.

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AUTHORS

  • Claude AMRA: Director, Institut Fresnel - Research Director, CNRS

  • Carole DEUMIÉ: Professor at École Centrale de Marseille

 INTRODUCTION

Although Descartes' laws (n sin i = constant) are commonly taught from the very first learning of optics, they only apply to a limited number of low-roughness surfaces. Conversely, light scattering phenomena, which govern a vast majority of phenomena including imaging and vision, are still little taught. The aim of this article is to provide non-specialist engineers and researchers with the theoretical and experimental tools they need to understand and apply these phenomena pragmatically.

In this paper, we will detail a perturbative approach characteristic of random media (surfaces and volumes) responsible for a weak diffusion in front of the incident flux; this approach presents multiple interests:

  • Modelling is simple to implement, with reduced calculation times that allow three-dimensional and spectral processing;

  • the case of diffusing volumes is treated in a similar way to that of rough surfaces;

  • generalization to multilayer planar structures (interference filters and waveguides) is immediate;

  • from an electromagnetic point of view, the problem of diffusion in multilayer systems is identical to that of luminescent microcavities;

  • finally, the perturbative approach reveals analytical expressions that are extremely useful in guiding the experimenter or theorist towards new applications; once the application has been identified, rigorous models can be used to establish a domain of validity and gain in precision.

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Light diffusion by surfaces and volumes