Elimination of polarized light scattered by surface roughness or bulk heterogeneity

An interferential technique is described to eliminate polarized scattering from optical substrates and coatings. Conditions of annulment are respectively given for surface roughness and for bulk heterogeneity, at each direction of space. At low-level scattering, the method offers a complete discrimination of surface and bulk effects, whatever the micro-structural parameters. Arbitrary scattering levels can be treated in a similar way, but require the knowledge of microstructure.