A backward Monte Carlo study of the multiple scattering of a polarized laser beam

A backward Monte Carlo estimator is developed to describe the multiple scattering of a polarized, narrow light beam by a plane-parallel medium. The case of a right circularly polarized beam is analyzed in this paper. Results indicate that the diffuse light field is partially polarized even at significant optical radii from the incident light beam. The degree of polarization of the diffuse light field is dependent on the optical thickness of the medium and the size parameter of the scatterers. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.