Satellite peaks in the scattering of light from the two-dimensional randomly rough surface of a dielectric film on a planar metal surface

TL;DR

This study provides a nonperturbative numerical solution for light scattering from a dielectric film with a rough surface on metal, revealing satellite peaks alongside backscattering, resolving previous theoretical conflicts.

Contribution

It introduces a nonperturbative numerical method to analyze light scattering from complex dielectric-metal interfaces, uncovering satellite peaks not predicted by earlier approximations.

Findings

Satellite peaks are observed in scattering patterns.

Enhanced backscattering peak is confirmed.

Previous theoretical conflicts are resolved.

Abstract

A nonperturbative, purely numerical, solution of the reduced Rayleigh equation for the scattering of p- and s-polarized light from a dielectric film with a two-dimensional randomly rough surface deposited on a planar metallic substrate, has been carried out. It is found that satellite peaks are present in the angular dependence of the elements of the mean differential reflection coefficient in addition to an enhanced backscattering peak. This result resolves a conflict between the results of earlier approximate theoretical studies of scattering from this system.