Open AccessPolarimetric imaging in backscattering for the structural characterization of strongly scattering birefringent fibrous media
Author(s) -
Arushi Jain,
Anjani K. Maurya,
Leonie Ulrich,
Michael Jaeger,
René M. Rossi,
Antonia Neels,
Philippe Schucht,
Alex Dommann,
Martin Frenz,
H. Günhan Akarçay
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.390303
Subject(s) - birefringence , polarimetry , optics , materials science , scattering , degree of polarization , polarization (electrochemistry) , light scattering , linear polarization , characterization (materials science) , stokes parameters , mueller calculus , membrane , polarization rotator , physics , chemistry , biochemistry , laser
Interpreting the polarimetric data from fiber-like macromolecules constitutive of tissue can be difficult due to strong scattering. In this study, we probed the superficial layers of fibrous tissue models (membranes consisting of nanofibers) displaying varying degrees of alignment. To better understand the manifestation of membranes' degree of alignment in polarimetry, we analyzed the spatial variations of the backscattered light's Stokes vectors as a function of the orientation of the probing beam's linear polarization. The degree of linear polarization reflects the uniaxially birefringent behavior of the membranes. The rotational (a-)symmetry of the backscattered light's degree of linear polarization provides a measure of the membranes' degree of alignment.