Analysis of target surface polarization characteristics and inversion of complex refractive index based on three-component model optimization

•The reflection process of the target surface is investigated from a microscopic perspective. Developed A polarization characteristics model to illustrate the link between the properties of the target surface and the degree of polarization of the reflected light. The polarization of the target is greatest in the direction of specular reflection and smallest in the direction of light source incidence.•Experimental data are used to invert the complex refractive index of the target. This suggests that the established Polarimatric Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function model can provide theoretical support for the analysis of the polarization properties of the target surface.•Targets of different materials have different polarization properties and the extinction coefficient can effectively classify the targets.