Interferometric measurement of light scattering behavior in continuous SiO2 fiber in PMMA matrix composite

Possibility of an interferometric method was examined for evaluating local light scattering behaviors in light transmitting materials. Phase profiles of wavefronts through a continuous SiO2 glass fiber–PMMA composite was measured by detecting transmitted light though the composite using the interferometric system with a pair of interferometers. Wavefront though the composite shows an anisotropic phase profile, and the phase delay originates from local light scattering due to refractive index difference at an interface between SiO2 fiber and PMMA matrix. Measured wavefronts demonstrated that the interferometric method is effective tool for an evaluation of local light scattering.