Random matrix theory of polarized light scattering in disordered media

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method to generate physically consistent random scattering matrices for polarized light in disordered media, enabling detailed statistical analysis of polarization effects including depolarization and chiral scattering.

Contribution

The authors develop a novel technique for creating random scattering matrices that satisfy physical constraints and incorporate polarization, advancing the study of electromagnetic scattering in complex media.

Findings

Simulations show polarization effects vary with particle size and medium thickness.

The method accurately reproduces known scattering behaviors in different regimes.

Results align with established theoretical predictions.

Abstract

In this work we present a method for generating random matrices describing electromagnetic scattering from disordered media containing dielectric particles with prescribed single particle scattering characteristics. Resulting scattering matrices automatically satisfy the physical constraints of unitarity, reciprocity and time reversal, whilst also incorporating the polarization properties of electromagnetic waves and scattering anisotropy. Our technique therefore enables statistical study of a variety of polarization phenomena, including depolarization rates and polarization-dependent scattering by chiral particles. In this vein, we perform numerical simulations for media containing isotropic and chiral spherical particles of different sizes for thicknesses ranging from the single to multiple scattering regime and discuss our results, drawing comparisons to established theory.