The region of validity of perturbation theory

We present a study of the region of validity of perturbation theory applied to rough surface scattering. We solve numerically the case of a periodic surface or grating varying in one dimension. For a statistical ensemble of gratings with a sufficiently long period one may obtain a good approximation of rough surface scattering. We use this to test the validity of perturbation theory.

Only the perfect conductor case was considered. We find that as the grazing angle becomes small the perturbation result for the TE (E horizontal) polarization remains valid, while for the TM (E vertical) polarization it breaks down. The results show that the perturbation results should be used carefully when being compared with experimental data at grazing angles.     

Region of validity of perturbation theory for dielectrics and finite conductors

We present a study of region of validity of first-order perturbation theory applied to rough surface scattering. The scattering problem is solved numerically for the case of periodic surface or gratings varying in one dimension. Scattering of electromagnetic waves from an ensemble of gratings of sufficiently long period will give a good approximation to the case of an infinite rough surface. We use this to test the validity of the first-order perturbation theory. Use of an infinite periodic surface allows us to give results for a range of angle of incidence covering those representing a low grazing angle, near 90° from the mean surface normal. We consider the case for perfect dielectrics and finite conductors. The real and imaginary parts of the refractive index used were limited to less than three due to the numerical instability of the numerical calculation method involved. We find that for perfect dielectrics the first-order small perturbation theory remains for TE polarization valid for all incidence angles, while for TM polarization it seems to fail if the incidence angle approaches the Brewster angle.     

Bistatic scattering and depolarization by randomly rough surfaces: application to the natural rough surfaces in X-band

Abstract

The scattering of waves by random rough surfaces has important applications in the remote sensing of oceans and land. The problem of developing a model for rough surfaces is very difficult since, at best, the scattering coefficient σ⁰ is dependent upon (at least) the radar frequency, geometrical and physical parameters, incident and observation angles, and polarization. The problem of electromagnetic scattering from a randomly rough surface is analysed using the Kirchhoff approximation (stationary phase, scalar approximation), the small-perturbation model and the two-scale models. A first major new consideration in this paper is the polarimetric signature calculations as a function of the transmitter location and receiver location for a bistatic radio-link. We calculate the like- and cross-polarized received power directly using the scattering coefficients, without calculating the Mueller matrix. Next, a study of the regions of validity of the Kirchhoff and small-perturbation rough surface scattering models (in the bistatic case) is presented. Comparisons between the numerical calculations and the models are made for various surface rms heights and correlation lengths both normalized to the incident wavenumber (denoted by σ and L, respectively). By using these two parameters to form a two-dimensional space, the approximate regions of validity are then established. The second major new consideration is the development of a theoretical two-scale model describing bistatic reflectivity as well as the numerical results computed for the bistatic radar cross section from rough surfaces especially from the sea and snow-covered surfaces. The results are used to show the Brewster angle effect on near-grazing angle scattering.     

Extension of the local curvature approximation to third order and improved tilt invariance

The second-order local curvature approximation (LCA2) is a theory of rough surface scattering that reproduces fundamental low and high frequency limits in a tilted frame of reference. Although the existing LCA2 model provides agreement with the first order small perturbation method up to the first order in surface tilt, results reported in this paper produce a new formulation of the model that achieves consistency with perturbation theory to first order in surface height and arbitrary order in surface tilt. In addition, extension of the modified LCA to third order is presented, and allows the theory to match the second-order small perturbation method to arbitrary order in surface tilt. Crucial to the development of the theory are a set of identities involving relationships among the small perturbation method (i.e. low frequency) and Kirchhoff approximation (i.e. high frequency) kernels; a set of new identities obtained in our derivations is also presented. Sample results involving 3D electromagnetic scattering from penetrable rough surfaces, as well as 2D scattering from Dirichlet sinusoidal gratings, are provided to compare the new results with the existing LCA2 model and with other rough surface scattering theories.     

Studies of scattering theory using numerical methods

Abstract

Numerical simulations, using both exact and approximate methods, are used to study rough surface scattering in both the smd and large roughness regimes. This study is limited lo scattcring lrom rough one-dimensional surfaces that obey the Dirichlet boundary condition and have a Gaussian roughness spectrum. For surfdces with small roughness (kh?1, where k is the radiation wavenumber and h is the root-mean-square (RMS) Surface height), perturbation theory is known to be valid. However, it is shown numerically that when kh?1 and kl?6 (where I is the surface correlation length) the Kirchhoffapprorimation is valid except at low grazing angles, and one must sum the first three orders of perturbation theory obtain the correct result. For kh?1 and kl?1, first-order perturbation theory is accurate. In this region, the accuracy of the first two terms of the iterative series solution of the exact integral equation is examined; the first term a1 this series is the Kirchhoff approximation, It is shown numerically that lor very small kh these first two terms reduce to first-order perturbation theory. However, lor this reduction to occur, kh must be made smaller than necessdry lor first-order perturbation theory to be accurate. In the regime of large roughness (kh?1) backscattering enhancement occurs when the RMS slope is on the order of unity. Several investigators have recently shown that the second term of the iterative series solution (the double-scattering term) replicates the properties of backscattering enhancement reasonably well. However, the double-scattering term has a lundamental flaw: predictions lor the scattering cross section per unit length based on the double-scattering term increase as the surfdce length is increased. This is shown here with numerical simulations and with an approximate analytical result based on the high frequency limit. The physical significance of this finding is also discussed. The final topic is the use of the double-scattering approximation to study the mechanism for backscattering enhancement with the Dirichlet boundary condition. This mechanism is usually assumed to be interference between reciprocal scattering paths. When the interlerence between reciprocal scattering paths is removed, the enhancement is eliminated. This shows that interference between reciprocal paths is almost certainly the dominant mechanism for backscattering enhancement in the scattering regime studied.     

Homogenization of a set of parallel fibres

Abstract

Rigorous results concerning the possibility of homogenizing a set of parallel fibres are given from the viewpoint of electromagnetic scattering. We deal with the classical time-harmonic Maxwell problem and distinguish the two cases of polarization, i.e. electric field parallel to the fibres (E∥) and magnetic field parallel to the fibres (H∥). Assuming a low density of fibres, we obtain, in the E∥ case, an effective medium with a possibly negative permittivity, whereas in the H∥ case the fibres disappear completely. On the other hand, for a high density of fibres, the E∥ case leads to a perfectly conducting medium and the H∥ case to a dielectric medium with a surface current on its boundary.     

A reciprocal phase-perturbation theory for rough-surface scattering

Abstract

We study the scattering of a scalar plane wave from a two-dimensional, randomly rough surface, on which the Dirichlet boundary condition is satisfied. The scattering amplitude is obtained in the form of the Fourier transform of an exponential, in which the exponent is written as an expansion in powers of the surface profile function. It is shown that the latter expansion can be written in such a way that the corresponding scattering matrix is manifestly reciprocal. Numerical results for the reflectivity, and for the contribution to the mean differential reflection coefficient from the incoherent component of the scattered field, are obtained and compared with the predictions of small-amplitude perturbation theory and the Kirchhoff approximation. As the wavelength of the incident wave is varied continuously the results of the phase-perturbation theory change continuously from those of the small-amplitude perturbation theory to those of the Kirchhoff approximation.     

A coordinate–spectral method for rough surface scattering

Abstract

In this paper, we deal with the time-harmonic scattering by one-dimensional rough surfaces separating two homogeneous and isotropic media. The method is based on a rigorous integral formalism. The unknown of the integral equation is projected onto a Fourier basis while the equation itself is sampled as in a classical method of moments. The accuracy is tested against both other methods and experimental results. One of the main interests in choosing a Fourier basis lies in the ability to solve rigorously the scattering of a p polarized incident beam by a shallow metallic rough surface. The role of the surface waves is accurately taken into account and phenomena such as enhanced backscattering are well described. With this method, one can consider that the gap between the domain of validity of perturbation theories and the domain of practical use of rigorous methods is filled.     

Perturbation theory results for the diffuse scattering of light from two-dimensional randomly rough metal surfaces

Abstract

Using the unitarity and reciprocity preserving formulation of Brown et al a perturbation treatment, correct to fourth order in the surface profile function, is given for the scattering of electromagnetic waves from a weakly rough, two-dimensional, random metal surface. In this formulation the boundary conditions on the electromagnetic fields are satisfied using the extinction theorem in conjunction with the Rayleigh hypothesis and the vector equivalent of the Kirchhoff integral. The theory is applied to, and results are presented for, several different types of rough surfaces which are characterized by power spectra that are extensions to two-dimensional random surfaces of the power spectrum of some one-dimensional random surfaces recently fabricated by West and O'Donnell. These surfaces, which can be realized experimentally, favor coherent, interferent, multiple scattering of electromagnetic waves via surface plasmon polaritons in intermediate states, and clearly exhibit enhanced backscattering caused by the surface plasmon polariton mechanism. Theoretical results are presented for silver surfaces at optical wavelengths.     

Wave diffraction by a concave statistically rough surface

Abstract

We consider a statistically rough impedance surface that is concave on average in contrast to a plane. Backscattering from such a surface is considered based on the small perturbation theory method. The diffraction problem is divided into two parts which are considered separately: the problem of scattering by small roughness (assumed to be local) and the propagation of incident and scattered fields over a smooth large-scale concave surface. In contrast to the ‘two-scale’ scattering model, the zero-order unperturbed wavefield is not assumed to be specularly reflected from the local tangent plane to the smooth surface, but it is a solution of a corresponding diffraction problem. Two particular cases of smooth surfaces are considered: first, the inner surface of a concave cylinder with a constant radius and finite angular pattern, and second, a compound surface that consists of a coupled half-plane and the cylindrical surface mentioned above. In a geometrical optics limit and with propagation at low grazing angles, the analytical results for a zero-order (unperturbed) field are obtained for these two cases in the form of a series over multiple specular reflected fields. It is shown that these non-local processes lead to the essential increase in the backscattering cross section in comparison with the two-scale model and tangent-plane approach.     

Sound scattering at fluid-fluid rough surface

Extinction theorem was used to deduce the first order scattering cross-section including the double scattering effects for the fluid-fluid rough surface. If the double scattering effects are neglected in the present method, the scattering cross-section agrees with the result obtained by the perturbation method based on Rayleigh hypothesis. Calculations of scattering strength were carried out, and comparisons with the first-order perturbation method based on Rayleigh hypothesis were also done. The results show that double scattering effects are obvious with the increase of the root mean square of surface height and the grazing angle when the valid condition k ₁ h < 1 is satisfied. Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2005CB422307)     

An iterative method for scattering from rough dielectric or conducting interfaces

Abstract

We introduces an iterative method for scattering a two-dimensional scalar wave from a rough interface between two media. The method is applicable to the case of electromagnetic scattering from a rough metallic or dielectric surface that varies only in one dimension. The first iteration is equivalent to the Kirchhoff approximation, and the series converges in one step for a flat surface. We discuss the conditions for convergence, and find that they are similar to those which Meecham showed to be necessary in the Dirichlet case.     

Effective probability density function of rough surface slopes when strong shadowing is present

Abstract

It is shown that at low grazing angles, the slope probability density function (PDF) of the nonshadowed part of a rough surface can differ significantly from the slope PDF of the overall surface, if surface heights and slopes are functionally dependent. If the surface steepness has a tendency to increase with height, the effective slopes of the illuminated part of the surface can be significantly steeper than the average slope of the surface as a whole. This fact can play a crucial role in any theoretical interpretation of experimental results concerning radar scattering by the sea surface at low grazing angles.     

Theoretical and computational aspects of scattering from rough surfaces: one-dimensional perfectly reflecting surfaces

Abstract

We discuss the scattering of acoustic or electromagnetic waves from one-dimensional rough surfaces. We restrict the discussion in this report to perfectly reflecting Dirichlet surfaces (TE polarization). The theoretical development is for both infinite and periodic surfaces, the latter equations being derived from the former. We include both derivations for completeness of notation. Several theoretical developments are presented. They are characterized by integral equation solutions for the surface current or normal derivative of the total field. All the equations are discretized to a matrix system and further characterized by the sampling of the rows and columns of the matrix which is accomplished in either coordinate space (C) or spectral space (S). The standard equations are referred to here as CC equations of either the first (CC1) or second kind (CC2). Mixed representation, or SC-type, equations are solved as well as SS equations fully in spectral space.

Computational results are presented for scattering from various periodic surfaces. The results include examples with grazing incidence, a very rough surface and a highly oscillatory surface. The examples vary over a parameter set which includes the geometrical optics regime, physical optics or resonance regime, and a renormalization regime.

The objective of this study was to determine the best computational method for these problems. Briefly, the SC method was the fastest, but it did not converge for large slopes or very rough surfaces for reasons we explain. The SS method was slower and had the same convergence difficulties as SC. The CC methods were extremely slow but always converged. The simplest approach is to try the SC method first. Convergence, when the method works, is very fast. If convergence does not occur with SC, then SS should be used, and failing that CC.     

Universal behaviour of scattering amplitudes for scattering from a plane in an average rough surface for small grazing angles

Abstract

It is shown that for scattering from a plane in an average rough surface, the scattering cross section of the range of small grazing angles of the scattered wave demonstrates a universal behaviour. If the angle of incidence is fixed (in general it should not be small), the diffusive component of the scattering cross section for the Dirichlet problem is proportional to θ² where θ is the (small) angle of elevation, and for the Neumann problem it does not depend on θ. For the backscattering case these dependences correspondingly become θ⁴ and θ°. The result is obtained from the structure of the equations that determine the scattering problem rather than by use of an approximation.     

Scattering and diffraction of a plane wave from a randomly rough strip*

Abstract

This paper deals with plane wave scattering and diffraction from a randomly rough strip using a combination of three tools: the perturbation method, the Wiener-Hopf technique and a group-theoretic consideration based on the shift-invariant property of the homogeneous random surface. The D ^a -Fourier transformation associated with the shift invariance is defined instead of the conventional complex Fourier transformation. For a slightly rough case, Wiener-Hopf equations for the zero-, first- and second-order perturbed fields are derived. They are reduced to a common Wiener-Hopf equation, an exact solution of which is obtained formally by means of the Wiener-Hopf technique. Using the inverse D ^a -Fourier transformation, the scattered wavefield is obtained as a stochastic field. When the strip width is large compared with the wavelength, a uniformly asymptotic representation of the scattered far field is obtained by the saddle point method. For a Gaussian roughness spectrum, several numerical results are calculated and illustrated in figures, based on which the characteristics of scattering and diffraction are discussed.     

Validity of rough surface backscattering models

Abstract

A study of the regions of validity for rough surface scattering models is conducted for surfaces with Gaussian and power law power spectra. Models included in the study are physical optics (PO), geometrical optics, small perturbation method and small slope approximation. The range of validity of the PO model is commonly described by a bound on the radius curvature of the surface relative to the electromagnetic wavelength. We show empirically that for backscattering the region of accuracy is more accurately described by a bound on surface slope. For surfaces with a Gaussian power spectrum, the PO model is accurate to within 2 dB for RMS surface slope values less than 0.59 cos³θ. For surfaces with a power law power spectral density, the PO model is accurate for significant slope values (RMS surface height/wavelength of the dominant spectral peak) less than 0.037 cos³θ. These conditions are valid up to approximately 30°. The regions of validity of other models in the study are also shown to be well approximated by bounds on surface slope.     

Formulation of rough-surface scattering theory in terms of phase factors and approximate solutions based on this formulation

Abstract

This paper presents the formulation of rough-surface scattering theory in which the bounded phase shift factors, ζ(r, α) ζ exp[iαζ(r)], replace the elevation, ζ(r). Both the Dirichlet and the Neumann problems are considered. The integral equations for secondary surface sources are obtained that contain only this phase function in their kernels.

The Neumann (iterative) series for the solutions of the integral equations thus derived are functional Taylor series in powers of L(r, α), not in powers of ζ. If we expand L(r, α) in these series in powers of ζ(r), we obtain the standard perturbation theory series. Thus, the new formulation corresponds to the partial summation of the perturbation series.

Using the Neumann series, we obtain several uniform (with respect to αζ) approximate solutions that contain, as limiting cases, Bragg scattering, the Kirchhoff approximation, and most known advanced approximations.

In the case of random surface z = ζ(r), these new expansions contain the function ζ(r) only in the exponents, and, therefore, the result of averaging can be expressed only in terms of the characteristic functions of the multivariate probability distribution of elevations.     

Manifestation of near-surface localized excitons in spectra of diffuse reflection of light

The interaction of excitons with rough surfaces and its effect on light scattering spectra were investigated theoretically. We have employed a model for the excitonic surface potential based upon the generalized Morse potential, taking into account its random fluctuations produced by the surface roughness. Applying first-order perturbation theory, we calculate the cross section of light scattering from a rough GaAs surface and analyze its frequency dependence in the presence of an extrinsic surface-potential well with excitonic bound states. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 865–866 (May 1998) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Reproduced here with stylistic changes by the Translation Editor.     

Influence of ionospheric irregularities on the form of radio signal scattering spectrum in over-the-horizon radar sounding of the rough sea surface

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the backscattering of HF radio waves from the rough sea surface, which have propagated through the ionosphere with random large-scale irregularities.

For the sake of simplicity, it is assumed in calculations that the rough sea surface is a perfectly conducting surface with the known Philips power spectrum of irregularities. Ionospheric irregularities of a random medium that are isotropic and single-scale ones, with a Gaussian spectrum, are considered within the limits of the hypothesis of frozen-in irregularities.

Within the first approximation of perturbation theory, using, as the incident wave and the Green function, their geometrical-optics approximations, we obtained the expression for the backscattering spectrum of the ionospheric chirp radio signal with a Gaussian envelope. The expression involves the parameters of the receive–transmit antenna, the signal, the propagation medium, and of the scattering surface. Numerical simulation was used to investigate the influence of all the above-mentioned parameters on the backscattering spectrum. It is shown that travel of ionospheric irregularities has the largest influence on the scattering spectrum, the signal parameters mainly determine the size of the scattering area in the range, and the form of the coherent integration window determines the form of the received signal and can distort it.