Scattering parameterization for interpreting asteroid polarimetric and photometric phase effects

Abstract

We derive an analytical parameterization of the amplitude and Mueller scattering matrices of a system composed of a small number of electric dipoles. The appeal of this derivation is that it provides a wide range of light-scattering polarization states with a minimal number of parameters. Such a tool can be used to interpret observations in terms of physical parameters. We aim to utilize these results in multiple-scattering studies, such as the interpretation of polarimetric and photometric phase effects of asteroids and other atmosphereless solar-system objects. Copyright © The Society of Geomagnetism and Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences (SGEPSS).