THEORY FOR MULTIPLE LIGHT-SCATTERING FROM RAYLEIGH SCATTERERS IN MAGNETIC-FIELDS

We present a microscopic theory for multiple light scattering occurrin g in inhomogeneous three-dimensional media subject to an external magn etic field. Magneto-optical effects (the Faraday effect and the Cotton -Mouton effect) occur inside the small inhomogeneities. Using point-in teraction models and the diffusion approximation, we are able to do qu alitative and quantitative predictions for this rather complex problem . We can take into account the spatial anisotropy, time-reversal-symme try breaking, and birefringence caused by the magnetic field, and disc uss the consequences for the diffusion tensor and the polarization cha racteristics of the diffuse light. We frequently compare our findings to a similar phenomenon in dilute polyatomic gases: the Beenakker-Senf tleben effect. Coherent backscattering and the field-field correlator [E(i) (B) <(E)over bar (j)> (0)] are addressed, which have both been o btained experimentally by the group of Maret et al. All modifications in transport theory due to the magnetic field exhibit a rather sensiti ve dependence on the scattering phase shift of the individual scattere rs.