By comparing the results of polarization-dependent, time-resolved intensity
profiles of photons transmitted through diluted milk, chicken breast tissu
e, and chopped chicken breast tissue, we found that the inherent anisotropi
c optical property of skeletal muscle tissue resulted in coherent coupling
between two mutually perpendicular polarization directions. This coupling p
rocess led to difficulty in using the conventional polarization gating meth
od for imaging unless the anisotropy characteristics were well understood,
However, imaging based on polarization gating in diluted milk and chopped c
hicken breast tissue, which had an isotropic random-scattering nature, was
quite effective. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America.