Backscattering of linearly and circularly polarized light in randomly inhomogeneous media

The scattering of linearly or circularly polarized light from a semibounded randomly inhomogeneous medium is considered. A new technique for simulating the electromagnetic radiation transport using the Monte Carlo method is proposed, which makes it possible to avoid cumbersome calculation of Muller matrices. Expressions are obtained for the co- and cross-polarized components of backscattered light for incident light of arbitrary polarization. The coherent and incoherent backscattering components are calculated for arbitrary combinations of incident and scattered light polarizations. It is shown that the main contribution to coherent backscattering is from the co- and cross-polarized components for linearly and circularly polarized light, respectively. The backscattering from an optically active random medium is calculated.     

Imaging and multiple scattering through media containing optically active particles

This paper examines the behaviour of polarized light scattered by a medium containing small chiral spheroidal particles. We show that for single scattering the observed phenomena of optical activity may be interpreted in terms of an averaged Mueller matrix and describe how the degree of polarization is affected by such a medium. The polarization properties of multiply scattered light by chiral particles are considered through the use of Monte Carlo simulations. It is shown that the effects of chirality under multiple scattering can be interpreted as an order-preserving influence in a disordered system and that this influence can, in principle, be exploited for the purposes of imaging.     

Imaging and multiple scattering through media containing optically active particles

Abstract

This paper examines the behaviour of polarized light scattered by a medium containing small chiral spheroidal particles. We show that for single scattering the observed phenomena of optical activity may be interpreted in terms of an averaged Mueller matrix and describe how the degree of polarization is affected by such a medium. The polarization properties of multiply scattered light by chiral particles are considered through the use of Monte Carlo simulations. It is shown that the effects of chirality under multiple scattering can be interpreted as an order-preserving influence in a disordered system and that this influence can, in principle, be exploited for the purposes of imaging.     

Dependence of the circular polarization of backscattered light in random media on anisotropy of scatterers

The scattering of linearly or circularly polarized light from a semi-infinite randomly inhomogeneous medium is considered. Using the Monte Carlo method, it is shown that, in the case of a wide front of incident and scattered optical radiation and irrespective of the degree of scattering anisotropy, the copolarized component of backscattered light dominates the cross-polarized component for the linear polarization and the cross-polarized component dominates the copolarized component for the circular polarization. If the beams of incident and scattered radiation are spatially separated and the size of scatterers exceeds the wavelength, the circular copolarized component dominates the cross-polarized one. A similar effect of the change in direction of the rotation of the plane of polarization in relation to the size of scatterers is revealed for pulsed radiation.     

纺织纤维光散射特性的模拟与实验

纺织纤维的光散射特性在纺织材料微观结构、光学性质以及无损检测中至关重要。利用纺织纤维各向异性的结构特点改进现有的角谱展开法,得到纺织纤维对倾斜入射平面波的散射以及表征其光散射特性的Mueller矩阵。采用蒙特卡罗算法模拟了平行棉纤维束对倾斜入射偏振光的多次散射,并对其计算结果进行了实验验证。结果表明理论计算和实验测量的散射光斑在形状特征、光强分布上均一致,从而验证了蒙特卡洛方法模拟纺织纤维光散射的正确性。结果同时也表明蒙特卡罗方法在纺织材料光传播特性的理论研究中具有重要的指导意义。     

Polarization imaging of multiply-scattered radiation based on integral-vector Monte Carlo method

A new integral-vector Monte Carlo method (IVMCM) is developed to analyze the transfer of polarized radiation in 3D multiple scattering particle-laden media. The method is based on a “successive order of scattering series” expression of the integral formulation of the vector radiative transfer equation (VRTE) for application of efficient statistical tools to improve convergence of Monte Carlo calculations of integrals. After validation against reference results in plane-parallel layer backscattering configurations, the model is applied to a cubic container filled with uniformly distributed monodispersed particles and irradiated by a monochromatic narrow collimated beam. 2D lateral images of effective Mueller matrix elements are calculated in the case of spherical and fractal aggregate particles. Detailed analysis of multiple scattering regimes, which are very similar for unpolarized radiation transfer, allows identifying the sensitivity of polarization imaging to size and morphology.     

A Monte Carlo ray tracing study of polarized light propagation in liquid foams

A Monte Carlo ray tracing scheme is used to investigate the propagation of an incident collimated beam of polarized light in liquid foams. Cellular structures like foam are expected to change the polarization characteristics due to multiple scattering events, where such changes can be used to monitor foam dynamics. A statistical model utilizing some of the recent developments in foam physics is coupled with a vector Monte Carlo scheme to compute the depolarization ratios via Stokes-Mueller formalism. For the simulations, the incident Stokes vector corresponding to horizontal linear polarization and right circular polarization are considered. It is observed that bubble size and the polydispersity parameter have a significant effect on the depolarization ratios. This is partially owing to the number of total internal reflection events in the Plateau borders. The results are discussed in terms of applicability of polarized light as a diagnostic tool for monitoring foams.     

Forward Monte Carlo computations of fully polarized microwave radiation in non-isotropic media

A completely forward Monte Carlo radiative transfer code has been developed with biasing techniques to efficiently solve the polarized radiative transfer equation for the full Stokes vector. The code has been adapted to accommodate plane parallel/3-D vertically/horizontally inhomogeneous scattering atmospheres in Cartesian geometries. Particular attention has been paid in stochastically treating the propagation, the emission and the scattering through anisotropic media particularly suited for clouds containing perfectly or partially oriented particles. Our modelling is very appealing because all its biasing techniques do not introduce unphysical Stokes vector. Numerical results and comparisons with benchmark tests are presented for verification.     

非球形粒子散射光的去偏振特性研究

目标对入射偏振光的散射特性反映了目标的属性信息。在Rayleigh散射理论的基础上，通过单层非球形粒子对入射偏振光的散射数学模型，应用矢量传输方程来计算非球形粒子散射的Mueller矩阵元，求解散射介质的偏振度，讨论在不同介质层厚度、粒子半径和探测角的条件下，非球形粒子散射光去偏振度的变化特性，给出了模拟仿真结果。该方法为研究目标的内部结构、厚度和粗糙度等特征以及目标的探测和识别提供了一种新的途径。     

Low-order light scattering in multiple scattering disperse media

Light scattering has been investigated in systems in which both single and higher order scattering occur. The Monte Carlo simulation technique for studying light scattering in randomly inhomogeneous, strongly scattering disperse media was employed. The reliability of the data obtained has been checked by comparing the results of the computer simulation with analytical calculations for the intensity of doubly scattered light. The first several scattering orders have been analyzed for different geometries of the optical experiment. It has been shown, in particular, that, depending on the detector aperture, the contribution of multiple scattering can vary by almost an order of magnitude.

     

Mueller matrix polarimetry for the characterization of complex random medium like biological tissues

The polarization parameters of light scattered from biological tissues contain wealth of morphological and functional information of potential biomedical importance. But, in optically thick turbid media such as tissues, numerous complexities due to multiple scattering and simultaneous occurrences of many polarization events present formidable challenges, in terms of both accurate measurement and unique interpretation of the individual polarimetry characteristics. We have developed and validated an expanded Mueller matrix decomposition approach to overcome this problem. The approach was validated theoretically with a polarization-sensitive Monte Carlo light propagation model and experimentally by recording Mueller matrices from tissue-like complex random medium. In this paper, we discuss our comprehensive turbid polarimetry platform consisting of the experimental polarimetry system, forward Monte Carlo modelling and inverse polar decomposition analysis. Initial biomedical applications of this novel general method for polarimetry analysis in random media are also presented.     

Mechanisms of ultrasonic modulation of multiply scattered coherent light: a Monte Carlo model

A Monte Carlo model of the ultrasonic modulation of multiply scattered coherent light in scattering media is provided. The model is based on two mechanisms: the ultrasonic modulation of the index of refraction, which causes a modulation of the optical path lengths between consecutive scattering events, and the ultrasonic modulation of the displacements of scatterers, which causes a modulation of optical path lengths with each scattering event. Multiply scattered light accumulates modulated optical path lengths along its path. Consequently, the intensity of the speckles that are formed by the multiply scattered light is modulated. The contribution from the index of refraction is comparable with the contribution from displacement when the acoustic-wave vector is less than a critical fraction of the transport mean free path and becomes increasingly greater than the contribution from displacement beyond this critical point. This Monte Carlo model agrees well with an independent analytical model for isotropically scattering media. Both mechanisms are coherent phenomena, requiring the use of a coherent light source.     

Interaction between ultra short pulses and a dense scattering medium by Monte Carlo simulation: consideration of particle size effect

With an enough short-pulse incident to an individual particle, elementary scattering modes can be observed: internal or external reflection, refraction and diffraction. Simulation of pulse propagation in dense scattering medium is usually computed for large observation time, so that time delays of pulse interaction with the particles are negligible compared to propagation times between particle. A Monte Carlo method is proposed to compute the propagation of an incident 100 fs laser pulse in dense medium taking into account time-dependent scattering characteristics of particle: observation time of scattered light is less than 5000 fs. Two extreme cases are exemplified: predominance of direct and single-scattered photons appears in a thin time window for small particles (1 μm). On the contrary multiple scattering is always predominant and scrambles the transmitted signal for large particles (100 μm).     

非均匀随机散射介质层的多次散射和热辐射的分层迭代解

为纳入矢量辐射传输方程的多次散射，将非均匀平行分层分布的随机散射介质划分成多个薄 层，利用各薄层的低阶Mueller矩阵解推导出整层的高阶散射迭代解.用这一方法计算了具有 占空比、粒子大小和温度廓线非均匀分布的平行分层随机密集球形粒子积雪层的极化热辐射 .数值结果与一层均匀随机散射层的离散坐标-特征值方法作了比较，讨论了多次散射和热辐 射与散射层各特征参数的关系，与积雪层微波遥感数据进行了对比. 关键词： VRT方程 平行分层 高阶散射解 迭代解     

The effect of multiple scattering in disperse media on polarization characteristics of scattered light

The effect of scattering of different multiplicity on polarization characteristics of scattered light is studied by the Monte Carlo computer simulation technique. The scattering multiplicity distribution versus the direction of scattering and dimensions of the scattering system is obtained for monodisperse systems of spherical particles of different size. The angular dependences of the elements of the light-scattering matrix (LSM) are calculated. It is shown that in a system of spherical particles, specific features of the LSM structure associated with multiple scattering have much in common with similar features of the LSM in systems of nonspherical particles under conditions of single scattering. The angular dependences of the degree of depolarization of the scattered light are studied.     

Three-dimensional vector radiative transfer in a semi-infinite, Rayleigh scattering medium exposed to spatially varying polarized radiation: generalized reflection matrix

Three-dimensional vector radiative transfer in a semi-infinite medium exposed to spatially varying, polarized radiation is studied. The problem is to determine the generalized reflection matrix for a multiple scattering medium characterized by a 4×4 scattering matrix. A double integral transform is used to convert the three-dimensional vector radiative transfer equation to a one-dimensional form, and a modified Ambarzumian's method is then applied to derive a nonlinear integral equation for the generalized reflection matrix. The spatially varying backscattered radiation for an arbitrarily polarized incident beam can be found from the generalized reflection matrix. For Rayleigh scattering and normal incidence and emergence, the generalized reflection matrix is shown to have five non-zero elements. Benchmark results for these five elements are presented and compared to asymptotic results. When the incident radiation is polarized, the vector approach used in this study correctly predicts three-dimensional behavior, while the scalar approach does not. When the incident radiation is unpolarized, both the vector and scalar approaches predict a two-dimensional distribution of the intensity, but the error in the scalar prediction can be as high as 20%.     

A phase sensitive optical rotation measurement in a scattered chiral medium using a Zeeman laser

A novel circular polarized optical heterodyne interferometer using a Zeeman laser to measure optical rotation both in nonscattered and scattered chiral medium is proposed. A pair of correlated orthogonal circular polarized light waves of different temporal frequency propagating in the chiral medium at different speed is studied. This results in phase retardation between circular polarized light waves of which the phase difference is proportional to the optical rotation angle of a linear polarized light in a chiral medium. In the mean time, two orthogonal circular polarized light waves can be treated as a circular polarized photon pair that is able to reduce the scattering effect in a scattered chiral medium. Then the optical rotation angle can be measured in the scattering medium. In addition, a common-path configuration with respect to circular polarized light waves immune the background noise. This further improves the sensitivity on optical rotation measurement based on phase difference detection.     

Influence of single scattering and multiple scattering on backscattered Mueller matrix in turbid media

Monte Carlo algorithm and Stokes-Mueller formalism are used to simulate the propagation behavior of polarized light in turbid media. The influence of single scattering and multiple scattering on backscattered Mueller matrix in turbid media is discussed. Single and double scattering photons form the major part of backscattered polarization patterns, while multiple scattering photons present more likely as background. Further quantitative analyses show that single scattering approximation and double scattering approximation are quite accurate when discussing the polarization patterns near the incident point.