Energy density density distribution of light inside two-dimensional randomly scattering slabs illuminated by a plane wave

摘要

In this study, light scattering inside random two-dimensional media, illuminated by an incident plane wave, is simulated by numerically solving Maxwell's equations. The results are compared to the corresponding, newly derived analytical solution of the radiative transfer equation (RTE) for a laterally infinitely extended slab. The two-dimensional scattering medium consists of a random distribution of circular scatterers with well-defined optical properties and area fraction. The ensemble-averaged energy density calculated from the electromagnetic fields obtained from Maxwell's equations is compared with the energy density obtained from the two-dimensional radiative transfer equation. Simulations for different area fractions show good agreement of the energy densities of the two theories for small area fractions (< 0.2) of the scatterers. For low concentrations, three different slab thicknesses are examined. The ensemble-averaged energy density calculated with Maxwell's equations show good agreement for all three slab thicknesses compared with the energy density obtained with the RTE. The results of this study can be used to calculate the average energy density distribution of light inside slabs of fiber-like structures with fast calculations of the presented analytical RTE solution. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.