Identification of aerosols by their backscattered Mueller images

Abstract

We have simulated the elastic light scattering by small dielectric particles with different shapes as well as different compositions. Backscattered angularly resolved Mueller images are obtained from the simulation. Our results show that the images are not only sensitive to the shape, size and orientation of the particle, but also sensitive to the composition. Thus the Mueller images act in reality like a Muellermicroscope, and can thus lead to the detection and classification of aerosols. © 2006 Optical Society of America.