Modeling of optical scattering from topographic surface measurements of high-quality mirrors

TL;DR

This paper presents a computational approach to model optical scattering from high-quality mirror surfaces using topographic measurements, with a case study on KAGRA interferometer mirrors.

Contribution

It revisits and streamlines computational methods for scattering profile modeling from surface height error maps, including a practical data-processing flow.

Findings

Generated scattering profiles applicable to ray-tracing simulations.

Applied methods to KAGRA mirror data to obtain representative scattering profiles.

Organized derivations and references for quick application of traditional equations.

Abstract

In this paper, we revisit computational methods to obtain an angular profile of optical scattering from a smooth surface, given a two-dimensional map of topographic height errors of the surface. Quick derivations of some traditional equations and relevant references are organized to shorten the search time. A practical data-processing flow of the methods is discussed. As a case study of this flow, the core mirrors of the KAGRA interferometer are examined, and we obtain a representative scattering profile that is easily applicable to ray-tracing simulations.