Quételet’s fringes due to scattering by small spheres just above a reflecting surface

Suhr, Wilfried; Schlichting, H. Joachim. In: Applied Optics 48/26 (2009) 4978-4984

In various everyday situations, a characteristic interference pattern can be observed on water surfaces. This pattern can be divided into two overlapping components: a corona and a system of Quételet’s rings, often with only a section of these visible in the form of fringes.We attribute this phenomenon to thin films of small spheres located just above the reflecting water surface. Due to differences in the optical arrangement, explanatory models applicable for conventionally produced Quételet’s rings are not transferable. We present a compatible mathematical model and some obvious analogies in order to explain the occurrence and properties of this phenomenon.

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