Circular dichroism in the presence of resonant Mie scatterers

Abstract

Unpolarised light propagation is considered in a circularly dichroic medium with optically isotropic Mie-particles. The degree of passed radiation polarisation is calculated under the assumption that multiple scattering in such a system occurs in the spatial diffusion regime. It is shown that introducing Mie particles into a homogeneous sample with natural optical activity can noticeably enhance the observed circular dichroism, namely, increase a difference between the intensities of right- and left-handed polarised light passed through the medium. If the first Kerker condition is fulfilled for Mie particles, then the effect can be almost ten times stronger as compared to the case of a homogeneous sample.