Geometrical shadowing of a random rough surface

In the context of the backscattering of waves from a random rough surface, a theoretical model is used to investigate the geometrical self-shadowing of a surface described by Gaussian statistics. Expressions are derived for various shadowing probabilities as functions of the parameter characterizing surface roughness and of the angle of incidence of the illuminating beam. The theoretical shadowing functions compare closely with those obtained experimentally from a recent computer simulation of a Gaussian surface.