Vector statistics of multiply scattered waves in random systems

Abstract

Statistical distribution functions are derived for the polarization of optical waves transmitted through a random medium. Excellent agreement is obtained with experiment. Our most significant result is the distribution function for the ellipticity \ensuremath{\epsilon}, the ratio between the major and minor axes of the elliptically polarized scattered light. This has a maximum at \ensuremath{\epsilon}=0 and vanishes for \ensuremath{\epsilon}=1, indicating that linear polarization is the most probable state and that circular polarization has vanishing probability. The averaged ellipticity is found to be 〈\ensuremath{\epsilon}〉=1-ln2=0.307.