Circular polarization memory effect in enhanced backscattering of light under partially coherent illumination

TL;DR

This paper experimentally investigates how circularly polarized light propagates in the sub-diffusion regime using enhanced backscattering under low spatial coherence illumination, revealing a polarization memory effect and a transition point between scattering regimes.

Contribution

It demonstrates for the first time the existence of circular polarization memory in enhanced backscattering under low coherence conditions across various scatterer sizes.

Findings

Circular polarization memory exists in EBS in the sub-diffusion regime.

EBS measurements cross over at a mean free path indicating a transition from multiple to double scattering.

The transition point varies with scatterer size and illumination coherence.

Abstract

We experimentally study the propagation of circularly polarized light in the sub-diffusion regime by exploiting enhanced backscattering (EBS, also known as coherent backscattering) of light under low spatial coherence illumination. We demonstrate for the first time that circular polarization memory effect exists in EBS over a large range of scatterers' sizes in this regime. We show that EBS measurements under low spatial coherence illumination from the helicity preserving and orthogonal helicity channels cross over as the mean free pathlength of light in media varies, and that the cross point indicates the transition from multiple to double scattering in EBS of light.