title: Mode-locked ring lasers for the backscattering measurement of mirrors.
abstract: A new method for measuring the backscattering produced by mirrors is presented. A mode-locked ring laser allows us to achieve more sensitivity than with any other technique. The present sensitivity to a minimum intensity backscattering coefficient (ratio of backscattered versus incident intensity) of 10(-15) can be enhanced through stabilization. We compare results realized with this technique with results issued from classical bidirectional reflectance distribution function measurements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy and enter for High Technology Materials, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Chalus
authors.forename: J-C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Diels