Using Bouguer's law to estimate the light-scattering properties of a heterogeneous medium with flat boundaries

This paper shows that, to correctly apply Bouguer's law when studying weakl y turbid and weakly absorbing media, it is necessary to take into account m ultiple re-reflection of the probe radiation at the sample boundaries with the external medium. Bouguer's law can be applied when the optical and geom etrical thicknesses of the test samples are small. Calculated estimates are given for the limiting geometrical thicknesses for certain types of light- scattering glasses and polymeric films. (C) 1999 The Optical Society of Ame rica. [S1070-9762(99)00501-1].