CALCULATION OF MUELLER MATRICES AND POLARIZATION SIGNATURES FOR A SLAB OF RANDOM MEDIUM USING VECTOR RADIATIVE-TRANSFER

The Mueller matrix which characterizes a slab of random medium contain ing spherical particles is calculated by using the vector radiative tr ansfer theory. The vector radiative transfer equation is solved for ar bitrarily polarized incident waves. The background refractive index of the slab is allowed to be different from the surrounding media. The s cattering specific intensities for four independent polarized incident waves are calculated and used to construct the Mueller matrix. The Mu eller matrix contains multiple scattering due to the randomly distribu ted particles governed by the vector radiative transfer theory. The ca lculated Mueller matrices are found to have symmetrical property and t here are eight nonvanishing matrix elements. Polarization signatures a re obtained at the backscattering direction from the Mueller matrix of the reflection side.