High angle phase modulated low coherence interferometry for path length resolved Doppler measurements of multiply scattered light

We describe an improved method for coherence domain path length resolved measurements of multiply scattered photons in turbid media. An electro-optic phase modulator sinusoidally modulates the phase in the reference arm of a low coherence fiber optic Mach-Zehnder interferometer, at a high phase modulation angle. For dynamic turbid media this results in Doppler broadened phase modulation interference peaks at the modulation frequency and its multiples. The signal to noise ratio is increased by almost one order or magnitude for large modulation angles and the shape of the spectral peaks resulting from the interference of Doppler shifted sample waves and reference light is not changed. The path length dependent Doppler broadening is compared with the theoretical predictions in the single scattered and diffusive regimes. The experimentally measured optical path lengths are validated with the Monte Carlo technique.     

Correlation transfer and diffusion of ultrasound-modulated multiply scattered light

We develop a temporal correlation transfer equation (CTE) and a temporal correlation diffusion equation (CDE) for ultrasound-modulated multiply scattered light. These equations can be applied to an optically scattering medium with embedded optically scattering and absorbing objects to calculate the power spectrum of light modulated by a nonuniform ultrasound field. We present an analytical solution based on the CDE and Monte Carlo simulation results for light modulated by a cylinder of ultrasound in an optically scattering slab. We further validate with experimental measurements the numerical calculations for an actual ultrasound field. The CTE and CDE are valid for moderate ultrasound pressures and on a length scale comparable with the optical transport mean-free path. These equations should be applicable to a wide spectrum of conditions for ultrasound-modulated optical tomography of soft biological tissues.     

Residual polarization of non-coherently backscattered linearly polarized light: the influence of the anisotropy parameter of the scattering medium

The effect of preservation of the residual polarization of backscattered light in the case of multiply scattered disordered media illumination by a linearly polarized plane wave is examined using the path-integral approach and Monte Carlo simulation. Disordered ensembles of non-interacting dielectric particles are considered as the model of scattering media. The influence of the anisotropy parameter of the scattering system on the degree of residual polarization is analysed. Experimental results obtained for various scattering systems at different wavelengths of illuminating light are in satisfactory agreement with the results of theoretical analysis and Monte Carlo simulation. The dependence of statistical properties of the polarization states of backscattered field partial components, such as probability distributions of ellipticity, on the anisotropy parameter is studied.     

Effect of absorption of multiply scattering media on the degree of residual polarization of backscattered light

The effect of absorption in a scattering medium on the degree of residual polarization of backscattered radiation is studied in the case of probing of multiply scattering media by a linearly polarized light. An approximate expression describing the dependence of the degree of residual linear polarization of the backscattered radiation on the optical characteristics of a multiply scattering medium is derived within the framework of the phenomenological approach, based on the concept of the distribution of the optical paths of partial components of the scattered optical field under the conditions of multiple scattering, and with the use of the ideas about the similarity of statistical moments of the multiply scattered optical fields. The cut-off of the partial components, characterized by a large value of the optical path, because of their absorption, results in a substantial increase of the degree of residual polarization for the bands of the selective absorption caused by the presence of chromophores in the scattering medium. The results of experiments with model scattering media (whole milk) and biological tissues (human skin in vivo) are presented.     

Auto-correlation Properties of Scattering Light in Ultrasound-modulated Random Media

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On the interrelation of the characteristic scales of depolarization and decorrelation of optical fields under multiple-scattering conditions

The interrelation of depolarization and decorrelation of optical fields in multiply scattering Brownian media is studied on the basis of the notion of the probability density of optical path lengths of the partial components of the scattered field under multiple-scattering conditions. To describe such media a universal parameter that is independent of the density (concentration) of scattering particles is introduced — the characteristic correlation time. Experimental results obtained with aqueous suspensions of polystyrene beads as model media are presented which demonstrate the constancy of this parameter at different concentrations of scattering particles. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 67, No. 7, 455–460 (10 April 1998)     

Auto-correlation Properties of Scattering Light in Ultrasound-modulated Random Media

In this paper, the auto-correlation properties of scattering light in random media modulated by ultrasound were studied. The expression of temporal auto-correlation function of scattering light amplitude in the ultrasound-modulated media was presented. The results show that the auto-correlation function is modulated as the ultrasound is introduced into the media and the modulation amplitude decays with correlation time. The influences of ultrasound amplitude, Brownian diffusion coefficient, scattering and absorption coefficients on auto-correlation function were discussed. The auto-correlation imaging of an object hidden in random media was also studied by the use of Monte Carlo simulations.     

Low-order light scattering in multiple scattering disperse media

Light scattering has been investigated in systems in which both single and higher order scattering occur. The Monte Carlo simulation technique for studying light scattering in randomly inhomogeneous, strongly scattering disperse media was employed. The reliability of the data obtained has been checked by comparing the results of the computer simulation with analytical calculations for the intensity of doubly scattered light. The first several scattering orders have been analyzed for different geometries of the optical experiment. It has been shown, in particular, that, depending on the detector aperture, the contribution of multiple scattering can vary by almost an order of magnitude.

     

Imaging and multiple scattering through media containing optically active particles

This paper examines the behaviour of polarized light scattered by a medium containing small chiral spheroidal particles. We show that for single scattering the observed phenomena of optical activity may be interpreted in terms of an averaged Mueller matrix and describe how the degree of polarization is affected by such a medium. The polarization properties of multiply scattered light by chiral particles are considered through the use of Monte Carlo simulations. It is shown that the effects of chirality under multiple scattering can be interpreted as an order-preserving influence in a disordered system and that this influence can, in principle, be exploited for the purposes of imaging.     

用于实现散射介质中时间反演的数字相位共轭的相干性

抑制散射介质对光的散射,调控光在散射介质中的传输,是光通信、生物光子学、光镊等领域的重要课题.设计并实现了基于宽谱光源和数字相位共轭的可调控光在散射介质中传输的时间反演实验系统.实验获取了不同相干长度下物光和参考光束之间的光程差与干涉图样、相位图及时间反演信号之间的关系,分析了光源相干性对调控光在散射介质中传输的影响.实验结果表明,基于宽谱光源的相干特性和数字相位共轭技术,通过调节光程差能选择性获取同一散射角度及相同传输路径的光束的相对相位,再利用空间光调制器对参考光束进行调控,实现光束的反向传播,从而选择性实现对同一散射角度及相同传输路径的光的时间反演.     

Polarization visualization of scattering media with CW laser radiation

The method of polarization visualization of a multiply scattering medium containing macroinhomogeneities based on analysis of polarization spatial distribution of a scattered linearly polarized light is discussed. The treatment is based on statistical properties of the effective optical path distribution of scattered field components. The influence of media scattering properties and the geometry of the experiment on the inhomogeneity image contrast obtained with use of polarization degree and of normalized scattered intensity of radiation as visualization parameters are discussed, as well as spatial resolution achieved in these both cases. Using the results of theoretical analysis and of the experimental model, the relationship between the shapes of spatial distributions of polarization degree and the intensity of the scattered light is considered as a function of the position of the visualized object (an absorbing half-plane immersed in a plane layer of the scattering medium). The opportunities for enhancing the quality of the images formed in this way are also discussed.     

Imaging and multiple scattering through media containing optically active particles

Abstract

This paper examines the behaviour of polarized light scattered by a medium containing small chiral spheroidal particles. We show that for single scattering the observed phenomena of optical activity may be interpreted in terms of an averaged Mueller matrix and describe how the degree of polarization is affected by such a medium. The polarization properties of multiply scattered light by chiral particles are considered through the use of Monte Carlo simulations. It is shown that the effects of chirality under multiple scattering can be interpreted as an order-preserving influence in a disordered system and that this influence can, in principle, be exploited for the purposes of imaging.     

Doppler effect's contribution to ultrasonic modulation of multiply scattered coherent light: Monte Carlo modeling

Modulation of light by ultrasound in turbid media is investigated by modified public domain software based on the Monte Carlo algorithm. Apart from the recognized modulation mechanisms, originating in scatterers' displacements and refractive index modulation, an additional mechanism, evolving from Doppler shift during photon scattering, is considered. Comparison of the relative contributions from all three mechanisms to light modulation by ultrasound is performed for different medium scattering properties and ultrasound frequencies. Refractive index modulation remains the strongest mechanism for light modulation by ultrasound, but for high ultrasound frequencies and for large scattering coefficients the Doppler effect can become dominant.     

Analysis of light propagation in highly scattering media by path-length-assigned Monte Carlo simulations

Numerical analysis of optical propagation in highly scattering media is investigated when light is normally incident to the surface and re-emerges backward from the same point. This situation corresponds to practical light scattering setups, such as in optical coherence tomography. The simulation uses the path-length-assigned Monte Carlo method based on an ellipsoidal algorithm. The spatial distribution of the scattered light is determined and the dependence of its width and penetration depth on the path-length is found. The backscattered light is classified into three types, in which ballistic, snake, and diffuse photons are dominant.     

Time-reversed ultrasonically encoded optical focusing into scattering media

Light focusing plays a central role in biomedical imaging, manipulation, and therapy. In scattering media, direct light focusing becomes infeasible beyond one transport mean free path. All previous methods1-3 to overcome this diffusion limit lack a practical internal "guide star."4 Here we proposed and experimentally validated a novel concept, called Time-Reversed Ultrasonically Encoded (TRUE) optical focusing, to deliver light into any dynamically defined location inside a scattering medium. First, diffused coherent light is encoded by a focused ultrasonic wave to provide a virtual internal "guide star"; then, only the encoded light is time-reversed and transmitted back to the ultrasonic focus. The TRUE optical focus-defined by the ultrasonic wave-is unaffected by multiple scattering of light. Such focusing is especially desirable in biological tissue where ultrasonic scattering is ~1000 times weaker than optical scattering. Various fields including biomedical and colloidal optics can benefit from TRUE optical focusing.     

Backscattering of linearly and circularly polarized light in randomly inhomogeneous media

The scattering of linearly or circularly polarized light from a semibounded randomly inhomogeneous medium is considered. A new technique for simulating the electromagnetic radiation transport using the Monte Carlo method is proposed, which makes it possible to avoid cumbersome calculation of Muller matrices. Expressions are obtained for the co- and cross-polarized components of backscattered light for incident light of arbitrary polarization. The coherent and incoherent backscattering components are calculated for arbitrary combinations of incident and scattered light polarizations. It is shown that the main contribution to coherent backscattering is from the co- and cross-polarized components for linearly and circularly polarized light, respectively. The backscattering from an optically active random medium is calculated.     

Spectrum of secondary electrons emitted during the nuclear β<Superscript>–</Superscript>-decay of the tritium atom

The depolarization of multiply scattered light in a disordered system of resonant dielectric Mie particles is studied. It is shown that the depolarization length of circularly polarized light under the first Kerker condition can be more than an order of magnitude larger than the transport length. Such a slow decay of circular polarization in a multiply scattering medium results in the enhancement of mesoscopic fluctuations of the transmission coefficient. The wavelength dependence of the variance of the transmission coefficient near the first Kerker point has a quasiresonant character. It is demonstrated that the second Kerker condition under which the forward scattering vanishes is satisfied with an increase in the refractive index. The depolarization lengths of circularly and linearly polarized light calculated for this case are minimal and almost coincide with the mean free path.     

Monte Carlo方法模拟光在生物组织中传播的新进展

Monte Carlo方法已被广泛用于模拟复杂的随机介质如生物组织中光的辐射传输.在生物光子应用中,早期的Monte Carlo模拟模型忽略了光在组织中传输的波动性,而用中性粒子光子包来模拟其传播过程.然而,许多光学诊断技术是基于光在组织中的偏振效应和多重散射的相干性来揭示组织的生理和病理信息,这就要涉及光辐射的波动性.本文阐述了用Monte Carlo方法模拟光在生物组织中传播的最新进展.     

Stochastic modeling of coherent phenomena in strongly inhomogeneous media

A procedure of numerical simulation for coherent phenomena in multiply scattering media is developed on the basis of the juxtaposition of a Monte Carlo stochastic method with an iterative approach to the solution of the Bethe-Salpeter equation. The time correlation function and the interference component of coherent backscattering are calculated for scalar and electromagnetic fields. The results of simulation are in good agreement with experimental results, as well as with theoretical results obtained by generalizing the Milne solution.     

Spatially distributed two-photon excitation fluorescence in scattering media: Experiments and time-resolved Monte Carlo simulations

We report on measurements and Monte Carlo analysis of the spatial distribution of light in two-photon excitation fluorescence (TPEF) microscopy operating through scattering media. The axial profile of TPEF produced by a high numerical aperture microscope objective focusing through a tissue-like optical phantom at depths more than five photon mean-scattering lengths is studied. The measured profile is quantitatively interpreted with time-resolved Monte Carlo simulations that take into account the spatio-temporal distribution of the photons within the turbid medium under a femtosecond excitation regime. It is shown that considering only the ballistic photons leads to an under-estimation of the actual out-of-focus distribution of the fluorescence, whereas it is over-estimated when the ballistic and scattered photons are treated alike. Comparison of the in-focus signal to the overall out-of-focus background clearly pointed out that the signal-to-background ratio of TPEF microscopy images benefits from a shortening of the excitation pulses. Moreover, in homogeneously labeled specimen, the background is shown to overcome the signal at imaging depths of about five to six photon mean-scattering paths.