NUMERICAL EIGENANALYSIS OF THE COHERENCY MATRIX FOR A LAYER OF RANDOMNONSPHERICAL SCATTERERS

By using the first-order iterative solution of vector radiative transf er in small albedo for a layer of nonuniformly-oriented, random, nonsp herical scatterers, the Mueller matrix and coherency matrix are obtain ed, Eigenanalysis of the coherency matrix is numerically calculated. T he eigenanalysis of the coherency matrix is proposed as a better metho d for identifying physical scattering mechanisms than direct inspectio n of the Mueller matrix. The functional dependence of polarimetric sca ttering is also discussed,