ABSTRACT
Scattering of coherent light by spatially inhomogeneous disordered media and rough surfaces leads to the formation of stochastic spatial distributions of the scattered light intensity, or
speckle
patterns. These patterns have a specific granular structure that results from the random interference of a great number of partial waves scattered by bulk or surface inhomogeneities (see Figure 14.1). The stochastic nature of scattering systems causes random phase shifts between these waves and results in statistical properties of the amplitude, phase, and intensity of speckle-modulated scattered fields.
