Abstract: Light scattering measurements were performed on single, immobilized dinoflagellates as well as on suspensions of the species Prorocentrum micans. The normalized Mueller scattering matrix element S$-14$/, which indicates an ability to depolarize circularly polarized light, is reported for both cases. The measurements involving single cells were performed on Prorocentrum micans, Gonyaulax polyhedra, and Crypthecodinium cohnii. The results show that the previously reported large S$-14$/ signal is not peculiar to P. micans. Time-dependent measurements of live cultures of P. micans show a large, high-frequency S$-14$/ signal. This signal is a diurnal function of the time of day, with a maximum at midnight. Investigations of the relationship between single cell and suspension measurements reveal that the large angle- dependent S$-14$/ peaks from immobilized single dinoflagellates are responsible for a large time-dependent S$-14$/ signal at 90$DGR in suspension measurements. The results of these experiments provide further evidence for the hypothesis that the chromosomes of the dinoflagellates are responsible for the large observed S$-14$/ signals. The unusual depolarization properties of dinoflagellates should be considered when using polarized light to enhance image contrast in underwater imaging. !25
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