Geometric depolarization in patterns formed by backscattered light

Abstract

We formulate a framework for the depolarization of linearly polarized backscattered light based on the concept of geometric phase, {\it i.e} Berry's phase. The predictions of this theory are applied to the patterns formed by backscattered light between crossed or parallel polarizers. This theory should be particularly adapted to the situation in which polarized light is scattered many times but predominantly in the forward direction. We apply these ideas to the patterns which we obtained experimentally with backscattered polarized light from a colloidal suspension.

3 pages and 3 figures

References in corpus (1)

• Depolarization of backscattered linearly polarized light

Cited by in corpus (4)

• Spin-orbit interactions of light
• Spin-to-orbital angular momentum conversion in focusing, scattering, and imaging systems
• Depolarization of backscattered linearly polarized light
• Topological spin transport of photons: "magnetic monopole" gauge field in Maxwell equations and polarization splitting of rays in periodically inhomogeneous media