Pb. Nagy et L. Adler, INCREASED INCOHERENT BACKSCATTERING FROM A LIQUID-SOLID INTERFACE AT THE RAYLEIGH ANGLE, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 96(4), 1994, pp. 2537-2545
The experimentally observed peak in the backward radiation from a liqu
id-solid interface at the Rayleigh angle is caused by a sharp increase
in the otherwise relatively weak incoherent scattering from the inher
ent inhomogeneities of the solid. The increase of the incoherent backs
cattering is essentially a specular effect in contrast with the nonspe
cular, finite-beam effect predicted to cause the much weaker coherent
reflection. The incoherent scattering can be caused by either geometri
cal irregularity or material inhomogeneity (e.g., surface roughness or
polycrystalline grain structure). This paper presents analytical resu
lts showing that, regardless of the physical nature of the scattering
inhomogeneity, there is a distinct peak in the backscattered intensity
around the Rayleigh angle. The angular dependence of the incoherent b
ackscattering is determined by the average properties of the liquid an
d the solid. The peak always occurs at the Rayleigh angle and the widt
h of the peak is determined by the density ratio between the solid and
the liquid. The maximum backscattering at the peak is essentially ind
ependent of the average material properties and is determined solely b
y the scattering inhomogeneity.