Analysis of scattering from very large three-dimensional rough surfaces using MLFMM and ray-based analyses

Several techniques are considered for the analysis of electromagnetic scattering from rough ocean surfaces. A rigorous Multi-level Fast Multipole Method (MLFMM) is employed, as well as a high-frequency ray-based solution. The MLFMM analysis is implemented in scalable form, allowing consideration of scattering from very large surfaces (in excess of 100λ×100λ, where A represents the electromagnetic wavelength). Plane-wave incidence is assumed, and a key aspect of the MLFMM study involves investigating techniques for rough-surface truncation. The rough surface is modeled as a target placed in the presence of an infinite half-space background; to minimize edge effects, the surface is smoothly tapered into the planar half space. We also consider the technique of employing a resistive taper on the edges of the rough surface. These two truncation techniques are compared in accuracy, memory requirements (RAM), and in computational time (CPU). The MLFMM results are used to validate an approximate ray-based high-frequency model that allows rapid analysis of large surfaces. The computational results are compared to measured forward-scattering data from scaled laboratory measurements, used to simulate scattering from an ocean surface.