Brewster's scattering angle and quasi-anomalous scattering in random scattering from dielectric interfaces

We measured the angular distribution of light scattering from dielectric random surfaces and confirmed the existence of the quasi-anomalous scattering and Brewster's scattering angle, which were predicted theoretically in our previous work. The quasi-anomalous scattering produces peaks at the critical angle of total reflection. Brewster's scattering angle is the angle of a zero in the p-polarized scattering distribution. In the case of vertical incidence there is a dip at the critical angle in the p-polarized scattering distribution, because Brewster's scattering angle overlaps the critical angle, while the peak due to the quasi-anomalous scattering exists in s-polarized scattering. (C) 1999 Optical Society of America [S0740-3232(99)01402-7].