Abstract

We consider the problem of establishing conditions on a given Mueller matrix that ensure that the scattered light is purely polarized independently of the incident light polarization. It is shown that physically realizable Mueller matrices can be decomposed into a nondepolarizing part and an input-independent additive depolarizing part. The nondepolarizing part, however, is not always derivable from a Jones matrix. Applications to polarimetric optimal transmission and reception are also discussed.

© 1992 Optical Society of America

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