AbstractThe problem of light scattering from a one‐dimensional dielectric fractal rough surface is investigated using Fourier transform within the limitation of the Kirchhoff approximation. A numerical formula for the scattering coefficient is obtained by theoretical derivation. The scattering coefficient is calculated and compared to both the FFT method and the classical Kirchhoff approximation integral solution. This FFT method solves the problem of edge effect that is neglected in the numerical study by the conventional Kirchhoff approximation. The dependence of the distribution of the scattering coefficient on the patch size, the fundamental spatial wave number, and the fractal dimension of the surface are discussed in detail. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 35: 317–322, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10595