Backscattering target detection in a turbid medium by polarization discrimination

We describe a method for increasing target contrast within a turbid medium by means of the polarization state of the scattered light. The backscattere d Mueller matrices for Various concentrations of 0.1-mu m spherical scatter ers were measured with and without a painted metal target. Simple discrimin ation based on detecting cross-polarized intensities is shown to be more ef fective than the use of total intensity information. As a result, the choic e of polarization state is dictated primarily by the requirement to maximiz e depolarization at the target. This in general means that circularly polar ized light is the optimum choice.