New Publication from the Vitkin Lab
MBP researcher Dr. Alex Vitkin has published a new Laser & Photonics Reviews article entitled "Polarized Light Backscattering From Turbid Media: Why Do Rayleigh Scatterers Preserve Linear Polarization More Than Circular Polarization?"
Article Abstract
Linear and circular degree of polarization (DOP) trends are studied in microsphere suspensions ranging from the Rayleigh regime (sphere diameter << λ) to larger sizes (sphere diameter ≈ λ) through experimental measurements and computational modeling. In doing so, linkages between single-scattering and multiple-scattering effects of polarized light are investigated to gain mechanistic insight into the question of why linear DOP is often greater than circular DOP when light is backscattered from turbid media comprised of Rayleigh-regime scatterers – a phenomenon which is not yet well understood. The findings of the study may indicate that linear DOP is enhanced by Rayleigh scatterers due to 1) increased direct backscattering pathways (via mirror-like large-angle reflections from scatterers) and 2) increased arc-like-pathway scattering along the plane that is perpendicular to the incident linear polarization vector. Both 1) and 2) result in higher co-linear intensity, also resulting in overall higher linear DOP than circular DOP.