Polarization dependence of scattering from one-dimensional rough surfaces

Abstract

The scattering of light by a one-dimensional rough surface is investigated in terms of the Stokes scattering matrix. It is shown that only four unique quantities appear in this matrix. Two of these are simply related to the s- and p-polarized scattering cross sections, although the other two quantities contain the cross correlation of electric-field amplitudes scattered by s and p incident states. Through experimental measurements with a well-characterized rough surface fabricated in photoresist, it is shown that all four unique Stokes matrix elements are significant for a surface that produces backscattering enhancement.