Geometric depolarization in patterns formed by backscattered light

TL;DR

This paper introduces a geometric phase-based framework to understand depolarization patterns in backscattered light, especially in forward scattering scenarios, supported by experimental results with colloidal suspensions.

Contribution

It presents a novel theoretical approach using Berry's phase to analyze depolarization in backscattered light and validates it with experimental data.

Findings

The theory accurately predicts depolarization patterns in backscattered light.

Experimental results with colloidal suspensions support the geometric phase model.

The framework is particularly suited for forward scattering conditions.

Abstract

We formulate a framework for the depolarization of linearly polarized backscattered light based on the concept of geometric phase, {\it i.e} Berry's phase. The predictions of this theory are applied to the patterns formed by backscattered light between crossed or parallel polarizers. This theory should be particularly adapted to the situation in which polarized light is scattered many times but predominantly in the forward direction. We apply these ideas to the patterns which we obtained experimentally with backscattered polarized light from a colloidal suspension.