Propagation of polarized light in birefringent turbid media: A Monte Carlo study

Abstract

Abstract. A detailed study, based on a Monte Carlo algorithm, of polarized light propagation in birefringent turbid media is presented in this paper. Linear birefringence, which results from the fibrous structures, changes the single scattering matrix and alters the polarization states of photons propagating in biological tissues. Some Mueller matrix elements of light backscattered from birefringent anisotropic turbid media present unusual intensity patterns compared with those for nonbirefringent isotropic turbid media. This result is in good agreement with the analytic results based on the double-scattering model. Degree of polarization, Stokes parameters, and diffuse reflectance as functions of linearly birefringent parameters based on numerical results and theoretical analysis are discussed and compared in an effort to understand the essential physical processes of polarized light propagation in fibrous tissues.

Contrast improvement in scattered light confocal imaging of skin birefringent structures by depolarization detection

“…For a linearly birefringent turbid medium, they showed the periodic variations in the degree of polarization of backscattered light versus the orientations of the polarizations [11]. For birefringence, d > 0.001, large difference in the degree of polarization of backscattered light was obtained with the orientation of the polarization parallel, perpendicular and at 45 to the slow axis of the birefringent material.…”

“…The dependence of degree of polarization of backscattered light from birefringent medium on different incident polarizations was reported by Wang et al, based on Monte Carlo algorithms [10,11]. For a linearly birefringent turbid medium, they showed the periodic variations in the degree of polarization of backscattered light versus the orientations of the polarizations [11].…”

“…In the past decade the interest in studying the propagation of polarized light in birefringent media has significantly increased [8][9]. Polarization-based theoretical methods, such as timeresolved [10] and Mie theory-based [11] Monte Carlo algorithms, and experimental techniques, such as polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) [1][2][3][4] and cross-polarized confocal laser scanning microscopy (CPCLSM) [12][13] have advanced the understanding of birefringence in biological tissues. These theoretical and experimental tools were used to characterize a change in polarization of light due to birefringent properties of biological tissues.…”

Differentiation of Mueller-matrix invariants of biological tissues fibrillar networks with different phase and amplitude anisotropy

“…To describe interactions of polarized light with these complex systems, more generalized approximations are required, for instance, those based on Mueller-matrix formalism. Nowadays many practical techniques based on the measurement and analyses of Mueller matrices corresponding to the investigated samples are applied in biological and medical researches [1][2][3][4][5]. A separate direction -laser polarimetry -was formed within matrix optics in recent 10-15 years [6][7][8][9][10].…”

Polarization correlometry of nets for characteristic states in Mueller-matrix patterns inherent to phase-inhomogeneous biological layers

“…Among the most widely spread methods, one can separate the so-called "scalar" (photometry, spectrophotometry) and "vector" ones (Mueller-matrix optics). Being based on them, ascertained in the works by Wang [1], Tuchin [2], Angel'sky [3] were interrelations between the set of statistical moments of the first to fourth orders that characterize the light scattering in phase-inhomogeneous layers and distribution of polarization states in laser images. In parallel with conventional statistical investigations, formed in the works by Nye [4], Berry [5], Soskin [6] during the recent 10 -15 years is a new optical direction in describing the structure of polarizationinhomogeneous fields within the frames of the topological approach -singular optics.…”