Experimental verification of nonreciprocal response in light scattering from rough surfaces

Abstract

The so-called reciprocity law that the response is not different when a light source replaces a detector (or vice versa) on a scattering surface has been examined experimentally for scattered light from a ground glass surface. The result shows that the reciprocity law is not strictly fulfilled. We call this phenomenon a nonreciprocal response in light scattering from rough surfaces. Measurements were taken with a goniometer in the domain where the scattering and incident angles are from 15 to 90°. As the ground glass surface becomes rougher, the response curve of the scattered light deviates further from the reciprocity law.