Scalar plane wave scattering from a thin film with two-dimensional fluctuation∗∗

This paper deals with a scalar plane wave scattering from a thin film with two-dimensional fluctuation by means of the stochastic functional approach. The refractive index of the thin film is written as a Gaussian random field in the transverse directions with infinite extent, and is invariant in the longitudinal direction with finite thickness. An explicit form of the random wavefield involving effects of multiple scattering is obtained in terms of a Wiener–Hermite expansion under small fluctuation. The first- and second-order incoherent scattering cross-sections are calculated numerically and illustrated in figures. In the incoherent scattering, scattering ring, quasi-anomalous scattering, enhanced scattering and gentle enhanced scattering may occur.     

Enhanced scattering from a thin film with one-dimensional disorder

This paper deals with a TE plane wave scattering from a thin film with one-dimensional disorder by means of the stochastic functional approach. The thin film is one-dimensionally inhomogeneous in the horizontal direction with infinite extent, and is homogeneous in the vertical direction with finite thickness. Based on an approximate wavefield representation in terms of a Wiener-Hermite expansion in a preceding paper (Tamura et al., 2004, Waves in Random Media, 14, 435-465), the first- and second-order incoherent scattering cross-sections are presented in explicit forms and scattering properties are discussed. The scattering properties vary entirely with the film thickness. In a case where the thickness is smaller than a few wavelengths in the thin film, enhanced scattering and associated enhanced scattering may appear as sharp peaks or dips on the second-order incoherent scattering distribution if the thin film has guided wave modes. When the thickness becomes sufficiently larger than the wavelength inside the film, a new enhanced scattering phenomenon appears as gentle peaks on the second-order incoherent scattering distribution in four special directions. Such four directions are the directions of forward scattering, specular reflection, backscattering, and the symmetrical direction of forward scattering with respect to the normal of the film surface.The first-order incoherent scattering occurs distinctly in four such directions. Such enhanced scattering is independent of the existence of the guided wave modes inside the thin film, and deeply relates to the structure of the thin film with one-dimensional disorder that has infinite correlation in the vertical direction. For SiC and glass thin films having one-dimensional disorder with a Gaussian correlation and three types of exponential correlation, the first- and second-order incoherent scattering cross-sections are illustrated in figures. The narrow enhanced scattering peaks appear for the glass film in a thin case. The gentle enhanced peaks turn up for both the SiC and glass films in a thick case. Furthermore, the optical theorem is calculated for several cases. It is then found that the error of the optical theorem decreases and the performance of the wavefield is improved by taking into account the second-order incoherent scattering.     

Enhanced scattering from a thin film with one-dimensional disorder

This paper deals with a TE plane wave scattering from a thin film with one-dimensional disorder by means of the stochastic functional approach. The thin film is one-dimensionally inhomogeneous in the horizontal direction with infinite extent, and is homogeneous in the vertical direction with finite thickness. Based on an approximate wavefield representation in terms of a Wiener–Hermite expansion in a preceding paper (Tamura et al., 2004, Waves in Random Media, 14, 435–465), the first- and second-order incoherent scattering cross-sections are presented in explicit forms and scattering properties are discussed. The scattering properties vary entirely with the film thickness. In a case where the thickness is smaller than a few wavelengths in the thin film, enhanced scattering and associated enhanced scattering may appear as sharp peaks or dips on the second-order incoherent scattering distribution if the thin film has guided wave modes. When the thickness becomes sufficiently larger than the wavelength inside the film, a new enhanced scattering phenomenon appears as gentle peaks on the second-order incoherent scattering distribution in four special directions. Such four directions are the directions of forward scattering, specular reflection, backscattering, and the symmetrical direction of forward scattering with respect to the normal of the film surface.The first-order incoherent scattering occurs distinctly in four such directions. Such enhanced scattering is independent of the existence of the guided wave modes inside the thin film, and deeply relates to the structure of the thin film with one-dimensional disorder that has infinite correlation in the vertical direction. For SiC and glass thin films having one-dimensional disorder with a Gaussian correlation and three types of exponential correlation, the first- and second-order incoherent scattering cross-sections are illustrated in figures. The narrow enhanced scattering peaks appear for the glass film in a thin case. The gentle enhanced peaks turn up for both the SiC and glass films in a thick case. Furthermore, the optical theorem is calculated for several cases. It is then found that the error of the optical theorem decreases and the performance of the wavefield is improved by taking into account the second-order incoherent scattering.     

Wave reflection and transmission from a thin film with one-dimensional disorder

This paper deals with a TE plane wave reflection and transmission from a thin film with one-dimensional disorder by means of the stochastic functional approach. The relative permittivity of the thin film is written by a Gaussian random field in the horizontal direction with infinite extent, and is uniform in the vertical direction with finite thickness. Arandomwavefield is obtained in terms of a Wiener-Hermite expansion representation with approximate expansion coefficients (Wiener kernels) under a small fluctuation case. For a SiC thin film and a glass thin film having one-dimensional disorder with Gaussian correlation or an exponential correlation, numerical examples of the first-order incoherent scattering cross section and the optical theorem are illustrated in the figures. It is then found that ripples and four major peaks appear in angular distributions of the incoherent scattering. Such four peaks may occur in the directions of forward scattering, specular reflection, backscattering and in the symmetrical direction of forward scattering with respect to the normal to surface of the thin film. Physical processes that yield such ripples and peaks are discussed.     

Enhanced backscattering and transmission of light from random surfaces on semi-infinite substrates and thin films

The enhanced backscattering of light from a random surface is manifested by a well defined peak in the retro-reflection direction in the angular distribution of the intensity of the incoherent component of the light scattered from such a surface. In this paper we present several new theoretical and experimental results bearing on the conditions under which enhanced backscattering occurs, and the way in which this phenomenon depends on the nature of the random surface roughness, both in the case that the random surface bounds a semi-infinite scattering medium and in the case that it bounds a film, either free-standing or on a reflecting substrate. In addition, we present new results on the transmission of light through thin metallic films bounded by random surfaces, which display the phenomenon of enhanced transmission, namely a well defined peak in the antispecular direction in the angular distribution of the intensity of the incoherent component of the light transmitted through such films.     

Enhanced backscattering and transmission of light from random surfaces on semi-infinite substrates and thin films

Abstract

The enhanced backscattering of light from a random surface is manifested by a well defined peak in the retro-reflection direction in the angular distribution of the intensity of the incoherent component of the light scattered from such a surface. In this paper we present several new theoretical and experimental results bearing on the conditions under which enhanced backscattering occurs, and the way in which this phenomenon depends on the nature of the random surface roughness, both in the case that the random surface bounds a semi-infinite scattering medium and in the case that it bounds a film, either free-standing or on a reflecting substrate. In addition, we present new results on the transmission of light through thin metallic films bounded by random surfaces, which display the phenomenon of enhanced transmission, namely a well defined peak in the antispecular direction in the angular distribution of the intensity of the incoherent component of the light transmitted through such films.     

Enhanced transmission through randomly rough surfaces

We present an experimental and theoretical study of two enhancement effects that occur in the transmission of light through a thin metal film whose illuminated surface is a one-dimensional random surface while its back surface is planar. The first is a well defined peak in the antispecular direction in the angular distribution of the intensity of the incoherent component of the transmitted light (enhanced transmission). The second is an additionally well defined peak in the forward direction in the angular distribution of the intensity of the incoherent component of the transmitted light, when the illuminated surface is not only randomly rough but has even symmetry as well (enhanced refraction). A fully automated bidirectional reflectometer has been used to measure the intensity of the incoherent component of He-Ne laser light transmitted through gold and silver films of these two types and the results are compared with the predictions of theoretical calculations of the enhancement effects.     

Enhanced transmission through randomly rough surfaces

Abstract

We present an experimental and theoretical study of two enhancement effects that occur in the transmission of light through a thin metal film whose illuminated surface is a one-dimensional random surface while its back surface is planar. The first is a well defined peak in the antispecular direction in the angular distribution of the intensity of the incoherent component of the transmitted light (enhanced transmission). The second is an additionally well defined peak in the forward direction in the angular distribution of the intensity of the incoherent component of the transmitted light, when the illuminated surface is not only randomly rough but has even symmetry as well (enhanced refraction). A fully automated bidirectional reflectometer has been used to measure the intensity of the incoherent component of He-Ne laser light transmitted through gold and silver films of these two types and the results are compared with the predictions of theoretical calculations of the enhancement effects.     

Scattering of a TM plane wave from periodic random surfaces

This paper deals with the scattering of a TM plane wave from conductive periodic random surfaces. By means of the stochastic functional approach, the scattered field is expressed in terms of a harmonic series representation, in which the coefficients are homogeneous random functions and are given by Wiener-Hermite expansions. An approximate solution for the Wiener kernels is obtained up to the second order. Several anomalies appear in the angular distribution of the incoherent scattering because of combinations of scattering due to surface randomness and diffraction due to surface periodicity. These are incoherent Wood's anomalies associated with guided surface waves propagating along the surface, enhanced backscattering and diffracted backscattering enhancement. The physical reasons for these anomalies and numerical results are discussed.     

TM plane wave scattering and diffraction from a randomly rough half-plane: (part II) An evaluation of the diffraction kernel

In a previous paper (part I), it has been shown that a random wavefield from a randomly rough half-plane for a TM plane wave incidence is written in terms of a Wiener-Hermite expansion with three types of Fourier integrals. This paper studies a concrete representation of the random wavefield by an approximate evaluation of such Fourier integrals, and statistical properties of scattering and diffraction. For a Gaussian roughness spectrum, intensities of the coherent wavefield and the first-order incoherent wavefield are calculated and shown in figures. It is then found that the coherent scattering intensity decreases in the illumination side, but is almost invariant in the shadow side. The incoherent scattering intensity spreads widely in the illumination side, and have ripples at near the grazing angle. Moreover, a major peak at near the antispecular direction, and associated ripples appear in the shadow side. The incoherent scattering intensity increases rapidly at near the random half-plane. These new phenomena for the incoherent scattering are caused by couplings between TM guided waves supported by a slightly random surface and edge diffracted waves excited by a plane wave incidence or by free guided waves on a flat plane without any roughness.     

Wave scattering from a random rough surface: reciprocal theorem and backscattering enhancement

The present paper gives a more complete treatment of the scattering from a two-dimensional random surface than previous works. Reciprocal theorems for the stochastic wave field and the incoherent scattering distribution (bistatic cross section) are derived and the presence of backscattering enhancement in the case of a slightly random Neumann surface is demonstrated. A physical interpretation of the backscattering enhancement associated with the presence of anomalous scattering on a slightly random Neumann surface is given. Some numerical calculations are performed to show the incoherent scattering distribution and the backscattering enhancement.     

Scattering of an electromagnetic wave from a planar waveguide structure with a slightly 2D random surface

This paper deals with the scattering of an electromagnetic (EM) wave from a waveguide structure with a slightly rough surface. The waveguide structure is a dielectric film on a planar, perfectly conductive surface, and the top of the film is a two-dimensional (2D) homogeneous Gaussian random surface. The treatment is based on the stochastic functional theory where the random EM field is represented in terms of a Wiener - Hermite functional of the random surface. Numerical calculations show that enhanced backscattering and cross-polarization occur, but that no enhanced satellite peak appears for a 2D random surface, in contrast to the case of a 1D surface. The enhanced backscattering is caused by the interference of two double-scattering processes and is attributed to the existence of guided waves in the scattering structure.     

Lasing in random media

A random laser is a non-conventional laser whose feedback mechanism is based on disorder-induced light scattering. Depending on whether the feedback supplied by scattering is intensity feedback or amplitude feedback, random lasers are classified into two categories: random lasers with incoherent feedback and random lasers with coherent feedback. A brief survey of random lasers with incoherent feedback is presented. It is followed by a review of our recent experimental work on random lasers with coherent feedback, including measurement of the lasing threshold, lasing spectra, emission pattern, dynamical response, photon statistics, speckle pattern and the investigation of relevant length scales. Large disorder leads to spatial confinement of the lasing modes, that is the foundation for the micro random laser. Some theoretical models of random lasers with coherent feedback are briefly introduced. The study of random lasers improves our understanding of the interplay between light localization and coherent amplification.     

Anisotropic low temperature thermal resistance in polycrystalline magnetic thin films

The scattering of spin waves and the thermal resistance due to this scattering are calculated for polycrystalline magnetic thin films with a small overall uniaxial anisotropy. The scattering is caused by the random orientation of crystallites, and also by the magnetization ripple, which is likewise produced by this random orientation. The wavelength spectra of the ripple and of the spin waves at low energy are essentially influenced by the magnetostatic interaction, which is taken into account within Harte's linearized thin film approximation, and for comparison also within Hoffmann's approximation. Due to the anisotropy of the spectra, the contribution of the spin waves to the thermal resistance of permalloy films should be highly anisotropic at temperatures of 2 K and below.     

Random generation of coherent solitary waves from incoherent waves

The random generation of coherent solitary waves from incoherent waves in a medium with an instantaneous nonlinearity has been observed. One excites a propagating incoherent spin wave packet in a magnetic film strip and observes the random appearance of solitary wave pulses. These pulses are as coherent as traditional solitary waves, but with random timing and a random peak amplitude.     

Scattering from a layer of discrete random medium over a random interface: application to microwave backscattering from forests

The distorted Born approximation is used to calculate the bistatic scattering coefficients from a layer of sparsely distributed discrete dielectric scatterers over a random interface. After specializing to the backscatter case, the scattering coefficient is determined as a sum of direct, direct reflected and interface scatter contributions. The direct reflected term contains contributions from the average interface and the interface fluctuations. These direct reflected terms include both incoherent and coherent or enhancement terms. The results are applied to backscattering from a mature hemlock forest over a roughened ground. The model results show that the direct reflected surface fluctuation terms give the dominant contribution to backscatter at P band and are equal in magnitude to the volume scatter at L band. Use of these new results brings the model predictions and experimental results into agreement.     

Laser excitation of flexural waves and their scattering by fractal inhomogeneities in a thin plate

The excitation of flexural waves in a thin plate (film) by harmonically modulated laser radiation and their scattering by small fractal inhomogeneities are considered. An expression for the mean fluctuation intensity for the scattered wave field is obtained. A relationship between the intensity, parameters of the laser radiation and the plate, and the fractal dimension of inhomogeneities is found. The expected frequency dependence of the flexural wave attenuation in the plate due to their scattering by fractal inhomogeneities is discussed.     

Sn掺杂ZnO薄膜的室温气敏性能及其气敏机理

采用化学气相沉积方法在预制好电极的玻璃基底上制备出Sn掺杂ZnO薄膜和纯ZnO薄膜. 两种样品典型的形貌为四足状ZnO晶须, 其直径约为150-400 nm, 呈疏松状结构. 气敏测试结果显示Sn掺杂ZnO薄膜具有优良的室温气敏性, 并对乙醇具有良好的气敏选择性, 而纯ZnO薄膜在室温条件下对乙醇和丙酮均没有气敏响应. X射线衍射结果表明两种样品均为六方纤锌矿结构. Sn掺杂ZnO样品中没有出现Sn及其氧化物的衍射峰, 其衍射结果与纯ZnO样品对比, 衍射峰向小角度偏移. 光致发光结果表明, Sn掺杂ZnO薄膜与纯ZnO薄膜均出现紫外发光峰和缺陷发光峰, 但是Sn的掺杂使得ZnO的缺陷发光峰明显增强. 将Sn掺杂ZnO样品在空气中退火后, 其室温气敏性消失, 说明Sn掺杂ZnO样品的室温气敏性可能与其缺陷含量高有关. 采用自由电子散射模型解释了Sn掺杂ZnO薄膜的室温气敏机理.     

Interference effects in backscattering of light by a layer of a discrete random medium

Multiple backscattering of light by a layer of a discrete random medium is considered. A brief derivation of equations for describing the coherent and incoherent components of scattered light is presented. These equations are solved numerically in the approximation of doubled scattering of light by a semi-infinite medium of spherical scatterers having a size comparable with the wavelength in order to study the effect of the properties of particles on the angular dependence of interference effects. Calculations show that the half-width of the interference peak decreases upon an increase in lateral scattering by particles and that the degree of polarization has a complex angular dependence on the properties of the particles. For an optically thin layer of the medium, the relations defining the interference peak half-width and the scattering angle upon extreme linear polarization as functions of the effective refractive index are given.     

Effect of thin film confined between two dissimilar solids on interfacial thermal resistance

A non-equilibrium molecular dynamics model is developed to investigate how a thin film confined between two dissimilar solids affects the thermal transport across the material interface. For two highly dissimilar (phonon frequency mismatched) solids, it is found that the insertion of a thin film between them can greatly enhance thermal transport across the material interface by a factor of 2.3 if the thin film has one of the following characteristics: (1) a multi-atom-thick thin film of which the phonon density of states (DOS) bridges the two different phonon DOSs for the solid on each side of the thin film; (2) a single-atom-thick film which is weakly bonded to the solid on both sides of the thin film. The enhanced thermal transport in the single-atom-thick film case is found mainly due to the increased inelastic scattering of phonons by the atoms in the film. However, for solid-solid interfaces with a relatively small difference in the phonon DOS, it is found that the insertion of a thin film may decrease the thermal transport.