Hybrid evolution strategy-downhill simplex algorithm for inverse light scattering problems

The rough surface inverse scattering problem is approached with a combination of evolutionary strategies and the simplex method. The surface, assumed one-dimensional and perfectly conducting, is represented using spline curves. Starting from rigorously calculated far-field angle-resolved scattered intensity data, we search for the optimum profile using the evolutionary strategies (mu / rho(,)(+) lambda). After a fixed number of iterations, the best surface is finally recovered with the downhill simplex method. Aspects of the convergence and lack of uniqueness of the solution are discussed.