Open AccessAdvocating a statistical definition for the BRDF
Author(s) -
Pierre Chavel,
Yvan R. P. Sortais,
Thomas Labardens,
Lionel Simonot,
Mathieu Hébert,
Gaël Obein
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of physics. conference series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.21
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1742-6596
pISSN - 1742-6588
DOI - 10.1088/1742-6596/2149/1/012013
Subject(s) - bidirectional reflectance distribution function , radiance , speckle pattern , optics , coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) , irradiance , reflection (computer programming) , diffraction , computer science , remote sensing , reflectivity , physics , geology , mathematics , statistics , programming language
The definition of BRDF as a ratio of radiance to irradiance assumes that the geometrical optics framework applies, implicitly meaning that spatial coherence and diffraction of light have no significant effect in the reflection process. However, recent applications of BRDF push at increasing the angular resolution and thus at reducing the solid angles for illumination and collection. Therefore speckle, an optical effect inherent to the stochastic nature of scattering objects, becomes apparent. We suggest that BRDF should be redefined as the statistical average over that effect.