Anisotropic light propagation in paper

Abstract We investigate anisotropic light propagation in paper using both a theoretical model and experiments. The theoretical model utilizes the Monte Carlo method to solve the photon transport equation numerically. It is assumed that wood fibres are represented by infinitely long, homogeneous and straight cylinders. The layer-like microstructure and anisotropic orientation of the fibres is considered in the model. The conical scattering by cylindrical objects, the wood fibres, is argued as the main source of anisotropic scattering. Simulations revealed that laterally resolved transmittance exhibits directional dependence. Experiments on light transmitted through a standard kraft liner product confirmed that light in fact do propagate more in the machine direction than in the cross direction. Reasonably good agreement was obtained between experimentally and numerically obtained iso-intensity patterns.