Scattering Patterns of Orthogonally Polarized Light Components for Statistically Rotationally Invariant Mosaic Birefringent Layers

Resumo

Using the method of two-point generalized Mueller matrices and the phase screen approximation, we have studied the relationship between the shape of the angular spectra of linearly polarized components of light scattered by randomly inhomogeneous layers of a birefringent material and the correlation structural characteristics of the layers. For statistically rotationally invariant layers, the structural conditions for three types of scattering patterns of linearly polarized components have been revealed: (i) patterns invariant with respect to the azimuthal rotation by 180°, (ii) patterns invariant with respect to the azimuthal rotation by 90°, and (iii) patterns possessing a circular symmetry. For mosaic birefringent layers consisting of homogeneous fragments with different azimuthal orientations of their optic axes, a relationship between the correlation structural properties of the layer and the shape of the scattering pattern of polarized components has been determined. In particular, conditions for the observation of crosslike four-lobed scattering patterns in crossed and parallel polarizers have been determined and the structural characteristic that is responsible for the orientation of such a scattering pattern with respect to the direction of polarization of the incident light has been found. The inferences that were derived have been supported by experimental data and results of numerical simulations.