Polarization properties of light multiply scattered by non-spherical Rayleigh particles

Multiple scattering of incoherent polarized light propagating through a random medium comprised of spheroidal Rayleigh particles is studied using Monte Carlo simulations. Two approaches are taken for the implementation of the simulation: the first uses individual realizations of particle orientation and the second, an accelerated method, averages over the particle orientation. These different methods produce results that are indistinguishable within statistical errors. The depolarization of light is examined in both transmission and backscatter for media comprised of spheroids of different polarizability ratios. In media containing spheroidal particles the depolarization is greater than that for spherical particles. Media containing prolate spheroids are more depolarizing than media comprising oblate particles of the same polarizability ratio. The extra depolarization due to asphericity is much less pronounced in the multiple scattering regime than for single scattering.