Electromagnetic scattering by discrete random media. III: The vector radiative transfer equation

A vector radiative transfer equation with an additional source term typical of dense media is obtained. The analysis includes (i) the derivation of an integral equation for the correlation matrix of the exciting field coefficients accounting for the correlation between the particles, (ii) the derivation of an integral representation for the specific coherency dyadic in terms of this matrix, and (iii) the simplification of the integral equation for the correlation matrix and of the integral representation for the specific coherency dyadic by employing a series of approximations which are characteristic of sparse media.