Polarization Studies of Light Diffusely Reflected from Ground and Etched Glass Surfaces

A theory is developed by which diffuse reflection from dielectric surfaces may be studied by measuring the polarization of the light diffusely reflected from such surfaces. Observations of the ratio of the intensities of light vibrating parallel to and perpendicular to the plane of incidence indicate that for ground and etched glass surfaces, illuminated by a collimated beam, regular reflection from small mirror-like planes, oriented at random, is responsible for much of the diffuse reflection.