Replacement of Ensemble Averaging by the Use of a Broadband Source in Scattering of Light from a One-Dimensional Randomly Rough Interface between Two Dielectric Media

Abstract

By the use of phase perturbation theory we show that if a single realization of a one-dimensional randomly rough interface between two dielectric media is illuminated at normal incidence from either medium by a broadband Gaussian beam, it produces a scattered field whose differential reflection coefficient closely matches the result produced by averaging the differential reflection coefficient produced by a monochromatic incident beam over the ensemble of realizations of the interface profile function.