Simo-Pekka SIMONAHO^* and Raimo SILVENNOINEN

University of Joensuu, Department of Physics, P.O. Box 111, FIN-80101 Joensuu, Finland

(Received November 10, 2003; Accepted June 28, 2004)

Electromagnetic analysis of the interaction between light and wood tissue is presented. The wood structure is modelled as a periodic binary structure and the transmitted diffraction efficiencies are calculated using the Fourier modal method. Comparison between theoretical and experimental results from thin wood slice are also presented. The results explain the emergence of the experimentally observed oval scattering pattern on the surface of wood.

Key words: diffraction, wood tissue, Fourier modal method

^*E-mail addres: simo-pekka.simonaho@joensuu.fi