Specifics of polarization structure of repeated scattering background in optical laser sounding signals

The possibilities of polarization analysis in the interpretation of laser sounding signals are widely known. The Monte Carlo method has been developed as applicable to the solution of this class of problems. Calculations examples related to a mathematical model of a laser direction and ranging (ladar) device operating at 0.6943 microns, irradiating a cloud layer with a lower boundary at a known height above the ladar apparatus, are presented. It is found that the qualitative nature of depolarization of the multiply scattered background is related primarily to the microphysical nature of the medium, manifested in the behavior of the scattering matrix components, while quantitative changes in delta (tau) depend both on optical density and absorption capacity, as well as the geometric parameters of the ladar system. The qualitative specifics of formation of the polarization structure of the ladar signal are correct only for a monosatic ladar system. Quantitative prediction of the characteristics of a signal in polarization soundings requires consideration of the boundary conditions which control the specifics of operation of each ladar device.