Multiple scattering of light from independent Brownian particles

Abstract

Using a perturbation method based on a multiple scattering expansion of Maxwell's equations, we have analyzed the effect of multiple scattering on the polarized and the depolarized field-correlation (FC) functions of light scattered from independent Brownian particles. The results of a complete second-order (CSO) calculation are presented. The expression obtained for the polarized FC function includes double scattering as well as turbidity corrections to the single scattering. Such turbidity corrections strongly influence the static and dynamic properties of the polarized FC function. The results of the CSO calculation reproduce quite well published experimental data on the angular and concentration behavior of the decay time of the polarized FC function. However, for the polarized intensity there is only qualitative agreement between theoretical and experimental values. The CSO analysis does not introduce turbidity corrections to double scattering and hence leads to the same expression for the depolarized FC function as does a pure, double-scattering calculation.