Scattering of radially polarized partially coherent vortex beams from a random medium with semi-hard boundary

Abstract

In this paper, scattering medium with a semi-hard boundary is extended to the case of a quasi-homogeneous random medium for the first time. Applying the first-order Born approximation, far-field distribution of radially polarized partially coherent vortex beams scattered upon the random medium with semi-hard boundary is studied. Spectral density distribution, degree of spectral polarization, polarization angle, and degree of ellipticity of the scattering field in the far zone are investigated. Influence of characteristics of the incident beam and scattering medium on the far-zone scattering field are discussed. In addition, phase singularity of the scattering field’s center is also described. It is interesting to find that the far-field scattering field is circularly polarized with a Gaussian distribution, though the incident field is radially polarized with a dark-hollow distribution. The center of the scattering field is completely polarized, while on the edge of the scattering field, degree of polarization shows obvious fluctuations with the change of parameters of the incident beam and medium. Results obtained here could find application in the acquisition of medium structure information.