Reconstruction of the surface power spectrum from reflectivity data

An analytical approach is used to determine the power spectrum of the surfa ce roughness from experimental data for the reflectivity of randomly rough surfaces. A one-dimensional, randomly rough, perfectly conducting surface t hat is illuminated by s-polarized light whose plane of incidence is perpend icular to the generators of the surface is considered, and the power spectr um is obtained within the framework of phase perturbation theory. Good agre ement with numerically generated experimental data is obtained. (C) 1999 Op tical Society of America.