Light attenuation analysis based on integral equations

Abstract

The shadowing and masking of a rough surface is an important problem for reflection models in computer graphics. The widely used Smith’s geometry attenuation factor (GAF) takes a few factors such as root-mean-square (rms) into account and makes too many assumptions. In our research, we construct a brand-new calculation technique for issues involving light attenuation on a rough surface. The GAF algorithm is derived from a scattering field based on integral equations and the computational electromagnetic method. Specifically, our use of the method of moments has enabled us to tackle the problem of analytically computing the shadowing and masking on a rough surface by taking practical factors such as wavelength, surface contour, polarization, material, rms, and so on into consideration. It is more precise than Smith’s GAF theory.