Depolarization of scattered light

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-003024",
  "term": "Depolarization of scattered light",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "The change in the polarization state of light after it has been scattered by a medium, indicating the presence of anisotropic scattering elements. When incident polarized light is scattered, its plane of polarization may be altered or randomized. This phenomenon is used to characterize the size, shape, and anisotropy of particles or macromolecules in solution.",
  "subject": "Polymer",
  "see_also": [
    "anisotropy",
    "polarizability",
    "scattering"
  ],
  "references": [
    "Purple Book, 1st ed., p. 67 (http://old.iupac.org/publications/books/author/metanomski.html)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/depolarization-of-scattered-light/"
}