Polarization Properties of Rough Surfaces Based on Polarized Bi-Directional Reflectance Distribution Function

To study the polarization properties of rough surfaces, we build a polarized bidirectional reflectance distribution function model based on the micro-facet theory by considering both the diffuse reflection and mirror reflection of micro-facet. By decomposing and changing the form of Mueller matrix, based on polarized bi-directional reflectance distribution function, we get three sub-matrixes and corresponding expressions which characterize the dichroism, phase delay, and depolarization of rough surfaces. We calculate the polarization properties of typical rough surfaces, and analyze the impact of incidence angle, azimuth angle, and roughness on polarization properties of rough surfaces. The results show that, the dichroism of rough surfaces has the maximum in the range of incident angle, and increases with increase of azimuth angle. The phase delay has the maximum in the range of azimuth angle, and decreases with increase of incident angle. The depolarization has the minimum in the range of incident angle, and decreases with increase of azimuth angle. The roughness has little impact on these factors except for depolarization.