We use the numerically exact superposition T-matrix method to compute electromagnetic scattering characteristics of a macroscopic volume of a discrete random medium filled with wavelength-sized spherical particles with a refractive index typical of water ice at centimeter wavelengths. Our analysis demonstrates relative strengths of various optical observables in terms of their potential remote-sensing content. In particular, it illustrates the importance of accounting for the forward-scattering interference effect in the interpretation of occultation measurements of planetary rings. We show that among the most robust indicators of the amount of multiple scattering inside a particulate medium are the cross- polarized scattered intensity, the same-helicity scattered intensity, and the circular polarization ratio. We also demonstrate that many predictions of the low-packing-density theories of radiative transfer and coherent backscattering are applicable, both qualitatively and semi-quantitatively, to densely packed media.

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Citation lists with outbound citation links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Figure files are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article level metrics are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

Related Journal Articles

• Polarized Pulse Waves in Random Discrete Scatterers (AO)
• Weak localization of electromagnetic waves and opposition phenomena exhibited by high-albedo atmosphereless solar system objects (AO)
• Multiple scattering by random particulate media: exact 3D results (OE)
• Conditions of applicability of the single-scattering approximation (OE)
• Effects of absorption on multiple scattering by random particulate media: exact results (OE)

Related Conference Papers

• Near-Field Mediated Terahertz Transmission through Random Media
• Light Distribution from the Analytical Solution of the Radiative Transfer Equation
• Optical Necklace States in Anderson Localized 1D Systems
• Determination of particle size distribution in concentrated suspensions: Photon Migration Approach
• Weak Localization and Time Reversal of Ultrasound in a Rotational Flow