Scattering of polarized light by tissues

摘要

Abstract: The transition of linearly polarized light into randomly polarized light is discussed in terms of a diffusion process characterized by a diffusivity (radians$+2$//mean free path) for the change in orientation of the polarized light. The linearly polarized transmission data of Jarry et al. and the circularly polarized transmission data of Schmitt et al. are analyzed. The results indicate that tissues (liver, blood) exhibit a lower diffusivity, 0.0015 (radians$+2$//mean free path), relative to the diffusivity of polystyrene microspheres in the 0.2 - 1.0 $mu@m dia. range in water (2.0 - 0.025 $LB@rad$+2$//mfp$RB@). The tissue diffusivity would equal and diffusivity expected for a 2.8-$mu@m dia. polystyrene sphere in water if the linear polarization behavior for polystyrene microspheres is extrapolated linearly to larger diameters that match the behavior for tissues.!4