scattering matrix

The Stokes parameters of scattered light are given by the matrix equation

$( s 0 , s 1 , s 2 , s 3 ) = F ( s 0 0 , s 1 0 , s 2 0 , s 3 0 )$

where the 4, 4 scattering matrix $F$ is comprised of 16 scattering matrix elements. These matrix elements, which may originate in theory or experiment, provide a complete description of the scattered radiation in terms of the incident radiation.

Source:

PAC, 1983, 55, 931 (Definitions, terminology and symbols in colloid and surface chemistry. Part 1.14: Light scattering (Provisional)) on page 934