Size determination by use of two-dimensional Mueller matrices backscattered by optically thick random media

Here we are concerned with the systematic study of polarized light transport in thick, isotropic, homogeneous random media and of the associated inverse problem. An original spatial and intensity rescaling of the polarization transport allows one to account implicitly for the volume fraction. This parameter elimination permits a complete exploration, by means of Monte Carlo simulations of the dependence of polarized light transport on microscopic parameters. Analysis of the Mueller matrices obtained from the simulations show that additional correlations (with respect to scalar transport) are obtained between the microscopic parameters and the spatial distribution of specific elements of the Mueller matrix. As a consequence, using carefully chosen polarization states, one can determine an average particle size independently of the volume fraction of particles, with only the knowledge of the refractive-index ratio being required. This analysis is validated with experimental Mueller matrices obtained for emulsions of various size, concentration, and polydispersity.