COHERENT-LIGHT TRANSMISSION BY A DEW PATTERN

We study both theoretically and experimentally the transmission of coh erent light by a drop pattern (dew). The theory is based on the Kirchh off scalar approach to diffraction.The polarization of the diffracted wave in the zero diffraction order is analyzed separately. The intensi ty in the zero diffraction order in the far zone is an oscillatory fun ction of the drop size. These oscillations are observed with a pattern of water drops growing on glass. The model allows for the evolution o f the important parameters of the drop pattern (average radius and sur face coverage) to be obtained from the light intensity in the zero dif fraction order. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.