Photon migration within the P3 approximation

David A. Boas; Hanli Liu; Maureen A. O'Leary; Britton Chance; Arjun G. Yodh

doi:10.1117/12.209973

30 May 1995 Photon migration within the P₃ approximation

David A. Boas, Hanli Liu, Maureen A. O'Leary, Britton Chance, Arjun G. Yodh

Proceedings Volume 2389, Optical Tomography, Photon Migration, and Spectroscopy of Tissue and Model Media: Theory, Human Studies, and Instrumentation; (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.209973
Event: Photonics West '95, 1995, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

The diffusion approximation to the photon transport equation is the simplest model for photon migration. The applicability of the diffusion approximation, however, is limited. For example, it is strictly valid only when the absorption coefficient is small compared to the scattering coefficient and the source modulation frequency is small compared to the scattering rate. In this contribution we establish the theoretical range of validity of the diffusion approximation, review a frequency-dependent solution of the transport equation within the P₃ approximation, and establish the significance of the P₃ solution using Monte Carlo computer simulations. We find that the P₃ approximation, in most cases, permits a more accurate determination of the optical properties of highly absorbing media as well as from data obtained at modulation frequencies greater than 3 GHz. Interestingly, for highly anisotropic scattering (g equals 0.9), we find that diffusion theory and the P₃ approximation predict approximately the same values for the reduced scattering coefficient.

Citation Download Citation

David A. Boas, Hanli Liu, Maureen A. O'Leary, Britton Chance, and Arjun G. Yodh "Photon migration within the P₃ approximation", Proc. SPIE 2389, Optical Tomography, Photon Migration, and Spectroscopy of Tissue and Model Media: Theory, Human Studies, and Instrumentation, (30 May 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.209973

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