Polarization Characteristics of the He–Ne Laser Radiation Reflected from Rhododendron Leaves Subjected to Acid Treatment

Results of laboratory simulation experiments on the influence of H2SO4 solutions on the optical characteristics of the radiation reflected from Rhododendron smirnovii leaves illuminated at an angle of 55° by He–Ne laser radiation (λ = 0.63 μm) linearly polarized in the plane of incidence are presented. The coefficients of correlation between the optical characteristics of the reflected radiation, the concentration of the acid, and the pigment composition of the leaves have been calculated. It is shown that the influence of acidic stresses on the polarization characteristics of the radiation reflected from a leaf manifests itself indirectly as changes in the concentration of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b and changes in their ratio in the leaf when observation is performed at angles of 50–60°.