title: Stokes scattering matrix for human skin.
abstract: We use a layered model of normal human skin based on size distributions of polydisperse spherical particles and their complex refractive indices to compute the Stokes scattering matrix at wavelengths in the visible spectral band. The elements of the Stokes scattering matrix are required in a polarized radiative transfer code for a coupled air-tissue system to compute the polarized reflectance and examine how it is dependent on the vertical structure of the inherent optical properties of skin, including the phase matrix. Thus, the elements of the Stokes scattering matrix can be useful for investigating polarization-dependent light propagation in turbid optical media, such as human skin tissue.
authors.affiliation: Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen, Norway. Anak.Bhandari@gfi.uib.no
authors.forename: Anak
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhandari
authors.forename: Snorre
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stamnes
authors.forename: Børge
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hamre
authors.forename: Oyvind
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Frette
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stamnes
authors.forename: Jakob J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Stamnes
mesh_terms: D020405:Dermis / Q000528:radiation effects; D004817:Epidermis / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008954:Models, Biological; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena