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  • Letter
  • Open Access

Depolarization composition of backscattered circularly polarized light

Ivan Lopushenko and Alexander Bykov

Igor Meglinski*

  • Opto-Electronics and Measurement Techniques, ITEE, University of Oulu, Oulu 90014, Finland

  • College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, United Kingdom

  • *Correspondening author: i.meglinski@aston.ac.uk
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Phys. Rev. A 108, L041502 – Published 24 October, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.108.L041502

Abstract

We consider the origin of unpolarized light resulting from the backscattering of circularly polarized light by a random turbid tissuelike disperse medium. We reveal the dynamics of the backscattered fraction of unpolarized light, disclosing its meticulous decomposition into two rigorously polarized components characterized by opposing helicities, with fully defined polarization states. Concurrently, their superposition, driven by multiple scattering within the medium, leads to the appearance of a fraction of linear polarization. We emphasize that the in-depth binding of circular polarization memory of light when the helicity flips occurs within the scattering medium, meaning the conservation of spin angular momentum. We anticipate that the results obtained hold significant implications for future studies, particularly in the field of tissue polarimetry and light vortices.

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Phys. Rev. A 108, L041502– Published 24 October, 2023
  • Received 3 June 2023
  • Accepted 20 September 2023
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.

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