Light scattering through turbid media: phase function measurements resulting in closure between theory and experiment

Summary form only given. As light travels through turbid media such as ocean water, clouds or tissue, it is attenuated by absorption and scattering. In this type of media, scattering is due mainly to particles that are much larger than the wavelength of light. The angular scattering probability (known as the scattering phase function) is often extremely forward-peaked and difficult to measure. Measurement of the scattering phase function is needed as an input to theoretical models that predict optical system performance. In the study we have: (1) measured the phase function of turbid media; (2) used this measured phase function as an input to a Monte Carlo model used to predict light scattering experiments; and (3) compared the Monte Carlo results with actual light scattering experiments. These tasks were completed to demonstrate closure between theoretical predictions and experimental measurements.