Vector statistics of multiply scattered waves in random systems

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Abstract
Statistical distribution functions are derived for the polarization of optical waves transmitted through a random medium. Excellent agreement is obtained with experiment. Our most significant result is the distribution function for the ellipticity ε, the ratio between the major and minor axes of the elliptically polarized scattered light. This has a maximum at ε=0 and vanishes for ε=1, indicating that linear polarization is the most probable state and that circular polarization has vanishing probability. The averaged ellipticity is found to be 〈ε〉=1-ln2=0.307.