ON THE INTERRELATION OF THE CHARACTERISTIC SCALES OF DEPOLARIZATION AND DECORRELATION OF OPTICAL-FIELDS UNDER MULTIPLE-SCATTERING CONDITIONS

The interrelation of depolarization and decorrelation of optical field s in multiply scattering Brownian media is studied on the basis of the notion of the probability density of optical path lengths of the part ial components of the scattered field under multiple-scattering condit ions. To describe such media a universal parameter that is independent of the density (concentration) of scattering particles is introduced - the characteristic correlation time. Experimental results obtained w ith aqueous suspensions of polystyrene beads as model media are presen ted which demonstrate the constancy of this parameter at different con centrations of scattering particles. (C) 1998 American Institute of Ph ysics.