Modeling the effects of scattering and absorption on the transmission of light in polycrystalline materials

Abstract

As transparent polycrystalline materials become more important in optical applications, evaluation of their optical properties across a wide range of wavelengths (or frequencies) is crucial for device design. In-line transmission measurements are often used to assess the suitability of materials for a given optical application. We developed a model that describes reflection, scattering, and absorption losses that commonly affect transmission. The model demonstrates the effects that parameters such as absorption type (Lorentzian or Gaussian), scattering regime (Raleigh–Gans–Debye or Rayleigh), and optical path length have on transmission spectra. We also fit the model onto transmission data from three polycrystalline material systems: ruby, yttria stabilized zirconia, and terbia. Parameters extracted from these fits can be used to describe wavelength dependent transmission with one simple analytical expression. The fit can also be used to decouple absorption from scattering, allowing for the extraction of important properties such as absorption coefficients.