Extended scattering channels for random matrix simulations of polarized light transport

Abstract

Modeling the propagation of light through disordered media is central to understanding and controlling wave transport in diverse optical and mesoscopic applications. Here, we present a random matrix simulation framework for modeling the transport of polarized light through random media composed of arbitrary particulate scatterers. Our approach employs extended scattering channels applied to angular spectral decompositions of the underlying fields, enabling flexible representations of arbitrary illumination and detection profiles. In contrast to previous work, this framework provides a rigorous treatment of scattering matrix correlations and offers novel geometric insights into the optical memory effect. We provide a detailed exposition of the underlying theory and illustrate several key features through numerical simulations. Our work is supported by a free accompanying codebase.