Photon pathlength distribution from polarized backscattering in random media

Abstract

Linearly polarized light backscattered from weakly scattering slabs in the cross‐polarized channel manifests a symmetrical pattern. The origin and the properties of the pattern are explained and how it can be used to extract the average pathlength of the photons in the medium is shown. It is also shown that the concentration of scatterers rather than the optical depth of the sample determines the properties of the cross‐polarized backscattered light. © 1996 Society of Photo−Optical Instrumentation Engineers.