Scattering coefficient determination in turbid media with backscattered polarized light.

A simple empirical method is presented to determine the scattering coefficient mu' s from backscattered polarized images of turbid media. It uses the ratio, pixel by pixel, of two images that are the second and the first backscattered Stokes parameter images Q and I, respectively. Taking this image ratio, then integrating it over the azimuth angle, we get a function depending on the distance from the light entrance point. This function has a maximum. Using Monte Carlo simulations, for a fixed reduced scattering coefficient mu s and for an anisotropy factor g varying between 0 and 0.8, it is found a linear relationship between the scattering coefficient mu s and the inverse of the maximum position of this function.