title: Scattering from rough thin films: discrete-dipole-approximation simulations.
abstract: We investigate the wave-optical light scattering properties of deformed thin circular films of constant thickness using the discrete-dipole approximation. Effects on the intensity distribution of the scattered light due to different statistical roughness models, model dependent roughness parameters, and uncorrelated, random, small-scale porosity of the inhomogeneous medium are studied. The suitability of the discrete-dipole approximation for rough-surface scattering problems is evaluated by considering thin films as computationally feasible rough-surface analogs. The effects due to small-scale inhomogeneity of the scattering medium are compared with the analytic approximation by Maxwell Garnett, and the results are found to agree with the approximation.
authors.affiliation: Observatory, Tähtitorninmäki, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland. hannu@astro.helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Parviainen
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lumme