Numerical, analytical, and experimental studies of scattering from very rough surfaces and backscattering enhancement

This paper Presents numerical simulations, theoretical analysis, and millimeter wave experiments for scattering from one-dimensional very rough surfaces. First, numerical simulations are used to investigate the effects of roughness spectrum, height variation, interface medium, polarization, and incident angle on the backscattering enhancement. The enhanced backscattering due to rough surface scattering is divided into two cases; the RMS height close to a wavelength and RMS slope close to unity, and RMS height much smaller than a wavelength with surface wave contributions. Results also show that the enhancement is sensitive to the roughness spectrum. Next, a theory based on the first- and second-order Kirchhoff approximation modified with angular and propagation shadowing is developed. The theoretical solutions provide a physical explanation of backscattering enhancement and agree well with the numerical results. In addition to the scattering of a monochromatic wave, the analytical results of the broadening and lateral spreading of a pulsed beam wave scattering from rough surfaces are also discussed. Finally, the existence of backscattering enhancement from one-dimensional very rough conducting surfaces with exact Gaussian statistics and Gaussian roughness spectrum is verified by a millimeter-wave experiment. Experimental results which show enhanced backscattering for both TE and TM polarizations for different angles of incidence are presented.     

A Study of Optical Backscattering Enhancement from One-Dimensional Rough Surface Using Monte Carlo Method

In this paper, according to Kirchhoff approximation, the optical backscattering enhancement of one-dimensional random rough surface, which includes fractal rough surfaces and random rough surfaces with Gaussian and exponential correlation simulated by Monte Carlo method, is obtained. It is shown that backscattering enhancement of random rough surfaces will increase with increasing the rms height of rough surface for a given correlation length. The angle width of backscattering enhancement is directly proportional to incident wavelength and inverse proportional to correlation length of rough surface. Complex phase of scattering field from superposed rough surface is uniformly distributed, none of the directions is of more overweight. The backscattering enhancement is also studied by wavelet analysis. The numerical results show good consistent with that of the relative references.     

浅海海底界面混响平均强度特性仿真

海底粗糙界面是产生混响的主要因素之一。本文通过理论分析和数值仿真的方法,根据浅海全波动混响模型对不同海底粗糙界面所引起浅海混响平均强度特性进行研究,主要考虑Goff-Jordan谱、Gauss谱和指数谱三种不同粗糙界面条件下的海底反向散射强度和混响平均强度特性。计算结果表明:海底粗糙界面会引起海底反向散射强度的频率特性的差异,进而导致海底平均混响强度的频率特性的差异,但随入射角度的变化不大。即使界面起伏的方差和相关长度相同,不同的粗糙度谱也会引起平均混响强度的差异。     

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.     

Scattering from very rough metallic and dielectric surfaces: a theory based on the modified Kirchhoff approximation

This paper presents a theory of scattering from very rough metallic and dielectric surfaces using the first- and second-order Kirchhoff approximations (KA) modified with the angular and propagation shadowing. The shadowing functions limit the single and double scattered waves which are illuminated and not shadowed by the surface. The theoretical results are compared with the Monte Carlo simulations showing the range of validity of the theory. The theory is applicable to the range where the RMS height is close to a wavelength and the RMS slope is close to unity, and the second medium is lossy. The second-order scattering includes two waves travelling in opposite directions on the surface, giving a physical explanation of the enhanced backscattering.     

Pulse broadening of enhanced backscattering from rough surfaces

Abstract

Recently, we presented a study of pulse scattering by rough surfaces based on the first-order Kirchhoff approximation which is applicable to rough surfaces with RMS slope less than 0.5 and correlation distance l?λ. However, there has been an increased interest in enhanced backscattering from rough surfaces, study of which requires inclusion of the second-order Kirchhoff approximation with shadowing corrections. This paper presents a theory for the two-frequency mutual coherence function in this region and shows that the multiple scattering on the surface gives rise to an additional pulse tail in the direction of enhanced backscattering. The theory predicts pulse broadening approximately 20% greater than that caused by single scattering alone for a delta-function incident pulse and typical surface parameters. Analytical results are compared with Monte Carlo simulations and millimetre-wave experiments for the one-dimensional rough surface with RMS height 1λ and correlation distance 1λ, showing good agreement.     

Pulse broadening of enhanced backscattering from rough surfaces

Recently, we presented a study of pulse scattering by rough surfaces based on the first-order Kirchhoff approximation which is applicable to rough surfaces with RMS slope less than 0.5 and correlation distance l≳λ. However, there has been an increased interest in enhanced backscattering from rough surfaces, study of which requires inclusion of the second-order Kirchhoff approximation with shadowing corrections. This paper presents a theory for the two-frequency mutual coherence function in this region and shows that the multiple scattering on the surface gives rise to an additional pulse tail in the direction of enhanced backscattering. The theory predicts pulse broadening approximately 20% greater than that caused by single scattering alone for a delta-function incident pulse and typical surface parameters. Analytical results are compared with Monte Carlo simulations and millimetre-wave experiments for the one-dimensional rough surface with RMS height 1λ and correlation distance 1λ, showing good agreement.     

Validity of rough surface backscattering models

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.     

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.     

Multiple light scattering from metal and dielectric rough surfaces

A numerical study is done on light scattering from one-dimensional random rough surfaces supporting both dielectrics and metals. The influence of the corrugation on the Brewster angle as well as on the angular distribution of transmitted intensity into the dielectric is investigated. The authors also obtain enhanced backscattering in the light reflected from metallic surfaces. Finally they discuss the influence of roughness on the drop of reflectance due to polariton absorption.     

Low-grazing angles scattering of electromagnetic waves from one-dimensional natural surfaces: Rigorous and approximate theories

We present a rigorous model, based on a specific boundary integral formalism for the wave scattering from rough, one-dimensional, dielectric or conducting surfaces at low-grazing incidence and scattering angles. Even though this so-called Grazing Method of Moment is, from a numerical cost point of view, independent of the incidence, it remains very numerically demanding. We thus propose an extrapolation technique for faster monostatic diagram computation, based on the theoretical behavior of the scattering amplitude at low-grazing angles. This technique is compared to the GMoM and to some approximate models, for surfaces with Gaussian spectrum as well as for sea surface.     

不稳定表面粗糙目标的太赫兹波段散射特性分析

研究了不同粗糙度下的非均匀和分区均匀不稳定表面粗糙导体目标在太赫兹波段的散射特性。区别于采用经验公式的建模方法,提出把随机粗糙面的建模理念应用到太赫兹波段的非均匀和分区均匀不稳定表面粗糙导体目标的建模中,用描述粗糙面的均方根高度和相关长度两个物理量来调节目标表面的粗糙度变化。提出表面粗糙目标的分类形式并给出具体模型,然后用随机高斯粗糙面来模拟非均匀和分区均匀不稳定粗糙目标的表面,再采用物理光学和等效电流相结合的方法来进行仿真计算,分别对不同入射角、不同频率和不同粗糙度的非均匀和分区均匀不稳定表面粗糙导体目标的太赫兹波散射特性进行分析,最后得出了相关的结论。     

Scattering of a plane wave by one-dimensional dielectric random rough surfaces—study with the curvilinear coordinate method

We present a method giving the bi-static scattering coefficient of a one-dimensional dielectric random rough surface illuminated by a plane wave. The theory is based on Maxwell's equations written in a nonorthogonal coordinate system. For each medium, this method leads to an eigenvalue system. The scattered field is expanded as a linear combination of eigensolutions satisfying the outgoing wave condition. The boundary conditions allow the diffraction amplitudes to be determined. The Monte Carlo technique is applied and the bi-static scattering coefficient is estimated by averaging the scattering amplitudes over several realizations. The results of a Gaussian random process with a Gaussian roughness spectrum are compared to published experimental and numerical data. Comparisons are conclusive.     

Multiple light scattering from metal and dielectric rough surfaces

Abstract

A numerical study is done on light scattering from one-dimensional random rough surfaces supporting both dielectrics and metals. The influence of the corrugation on the Brewster angle as well as on the angular distribution of transmitted intensity into the dielectric is investigated. The authors also obtain enhanced backscattering in the light reflected from metallic surfaces. Finally they discuss the influence of roughness on the drop of reflectance due to polariton absorption.     

Calculations of Infrared Laser Beam Scattering from Rough Dielectric Objects

The coherent and incoherent scattering cross sections of Infrared Laser Gaussian beam scattering from arbitrarily shaped convex dielectric objects with rough surfaces are investigated by using plane wave spectrum method and physical optics approximation. In the paper, the infrared laser scattering cross sections of rough sphere are calculated at 10.6 m , and the influence of the beam size, permittivity, and polarization as well as roughness parameters is analyzed numerically. When the beam size is much larger than the size of object, the results in the paper can reduce to those of an incident plane wave. On the other hand, for the case of roughness statistical parameter close to zero, only the forward scattering has a parent difference compared with the result of gaussian beam scattering from smooth sphere.     

A heuristic model approximation for scattering from perfectly conducting one-dimensional random rough surfaces

Abstract

We propose a model for scattering from one-dimensional, perfectly conducting, slightly rough surfaces. A possible method for solving the scattering equations is examined which, with some assumptions, suggests the final result. The approximation is relatively simple and is comparable in computational effort with most first-order theories. We compare the bistatic scattering cross section for TE waves predicted by the present model for Gaussian randomly rough surfaces with numerical simulations and with some first-order theories. The comparison shows that the model is remarkably accurate for slightly rough surfaces and TE polarization.     

Electromagnetic scattering from two-layer rough interfaces in the Kirchhoff approximation

Electromagnetic wave scattering from multilayers consisting of two two-layer Gaussian rough surfaces with lossless media is investigated in the Kirchhoff approximation (KA), with consideration of the shadowing effects. The tapered incident wave is introduced into the classic KA, and the bistatic scattering coefficient is redetermined. The advantage of this method is that it is faster in computation than the exact numerical methods. The numerical results show that the bistatic scattering coefficient calculated in the KA is in good agreement with that obtained by using the method of moment (MOM) over a most angular range, which indicates the validity of the KA proposed in our paper. Finally, the effects of the relative permittivity, the root-mean-square (RMS) height, the correlative length, and the average height between the two interfaces on the bistatic scattering coefficient are discussed in detail.     

A heuristic model approximation for scattering from perfectly conducting one-dimensional random rough surfaces

We propose a model for scattering from one-dimensional, perfectly conducting, slightly rough surfaces. A possible method for solving the scattering equations is examined which, with some assumptions, suggests the final result. The approximation is relatively simple and is comparable in computational effort with most first-order theories. We compare the bistatic scattering cross section for TE waves predicted by the present model for Gaussian randomly rough surfaces with numerical simulations and with some first-order theories. The comparison shows that the model is remarkably accurate for slightly rough surfaces and TE polarization.     

高斯分层介质粗糙面光波透射问题的微扰法研究

运用微扰法研究平面波入射分层介质粗糙面的光波透射问题,推出了不同极化状态的透射光波散射系数公式。采用高斯粗糙面来模拟实际的分层介质粗糙面,结合高斯粗糙面的功率谱导出了平面波入射高斯分层介质粗糙面的透射系数计算公式。通过数值计算得到HH极化透射系数随透射光波散射角变化的曲线,讨论底层介质介电常数、中间介质介电常数和厚度、粗糙面参数及入射光波长对透射系数的影响。数值计算结果表明：底层介质介电常数、中间介质介电常数和厚度、粗糙面参数及入射光波长对透射系数的影响是非常复杂的。