title: Bridging the microscopic and macroscopic theories for light reflected from disordered plane-parallel dielectric slabs.
abstract: For a system of randomly arranged plane-parallel dielectric layers with randomly varying index of refraction and width, we compare the reflection coefficient derived from the Maxwell equations with that of the Boltzmann theory. For a strictly monochromatic field this coefficient is an oscillatory function of the laser frequency. We show how suitable frequency or ensemble averaging permits a comparison of the two theories. The calculation of the usual Boltzmann scattering coefficient from microscopic parameters can be improved to permit a better agreement with the exact Maxwell data.
authors.affiliation: Intense Laser Physics Theory Unit and Department of Physics, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois 61790-4560 USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grobe