title: Birefringence determination in turbid media.
abstract: We study the influence of birefringence on incoherent polarized light transport in turbid media. In particular, Mueller matrices backscattered by a diffusing medium are modified by the birefringence of the suspending phase. We study this effect both theoretically, through Monte Carlo simulations, and experimentally with a highly birefringent xanthane solution in which particles are added at various concentrations to modify its turbidity. Comparisons between experiments on flow-induced birefringence of the xanthane solution with or without particles are in good agreement and show the capability of measuring birefringence in turbid media through analysis of Mueller matrices.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Energétique et de Mécanique Théorique et Appliquée CNRS 7563, University of Nancy, France. christophe.baravian@ensem.inpl-nancy.fr
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baravian
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dillet
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Decruppe