Coupled dipole method for modeling optical properties of large-scale random media

We present an extension of the coupled dipole approximation technique to model optical properties of large-scale slabs of homogeneous and inhomogeneous materials. This method is based on a modification of the Green's function to take into account the interaction between dipoles located at arbitrary distances within the slab. This method allows modeling of various aspects of the structural morphology of composite materials, including component size and spatial distribution as well as surface roughness effects. Our procedure provides an adequate description of far-field optical properties such as the specular and diffuse reflection of light.