Computation, visualization, and animation of infrared Mueller matrix elements by scattering from surfaces that are absorbing and randomly rough.

Computation of Mueller matrix elements by infrared scattering from randomly rough two-dimensional surfaces and results of a method for graphic display of the data are presented. A full wave electromagnetic scattering model first generates raw data elements of the 4 × 4 Mueller matrix F(θ, nλ, kλ, σs(2), ?h(2)?) in beam backscattering angle (θ) ranging from normal to oblique incidence, in refractive index of the beam scatterer (nλ - ikλ) spanning the 9 ≤ λ ≤ 12.5 µm midinfrared band, and in mean-squared slope ((σS(2)) and mean-squared height (?h(2)?) of the scattering surface. These data are next compressed into a graphics format file occupying considerably less computer storage space and mapped into color images of the Mueller elements as viewed on a high-resolution graphics terminal. The diagonal and two off-diagonal elements are animated in the λ-θ plane according to varitions in σs(2) and ?h(2)?. Predicted elements for polarized IR beam energies on vibrational resonance of the surface molecules, and particularly the off-diagonal elements, show subtle properties of the scatterer as viewed in the animation sequences.