Changes of polarization of light beams on propagation through tissue

The values of the degree of polarization and the coherence of the light beam are of great importance in many areas. In this paper, we study the effects of tissue turbulence on the degree of polarization of a partially coherent electromagnetic beam. Based oil the unified theory of coherence and polarization for random electromagnetic beams and the spectral density of the index of refraction fluctuations of tissue, we have established the detailed formula for calculating the change of the degree of polarization of the beam when propagating through tissue. Compared with the light propagation through atmosphere, the result shows that although the propagation distance in tissue imaging is very short, the degree of polarization of the beam may change greatly. An example was given which clearly shows the effect of the correction properties and the tissue turbulence on the degree of polarization of the light beam propagating within the tissue. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.