Intensity statistics of the light scattered from particulate surfaces: interacting particles and non-Gaussian effects

We analyze the statistics of the copolarized and cross-polarized scattered intensity from a flat substrate contaminated by spherical or spheroidal int eracting particles. In particular, we focus on both the cross-polarized com ponent and the probability of detecting zeros in the cross-polarized intens ity, P(I-cross = 0). As it is shown, the latter parameter gives information about particle interaction and can be measured with higher accuracy than o ther statistical parameters. A theoretical model for P(I-cross = 0) is pres ented for spherical Rayleigh scatterers. Computer simulations of P(I-cross = 0) by varying the shape, size and surface density of the particles are al so shown. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.