Comparison of wave-optical and Monte Carlo light propagation simulations in scattering media

The different methods in diffuse optical imaging are promising tools for emerging diagnostic and therapeutic medical technologies. They are based on the optical properties of tissue and the proper modeling of light-tissue interaction. However, this modeling often relies on analytical solutions of impractical geometries or is limited by time-consuming simulations, especially in cases where wave-optical phenomena dominate.In this study, the light propagation in 3D scattering media based on Maxwell's equations, the Wave Propagation Method, and Monte Carlo simulations are compared in terms of computational speed and agreement. The light distributions of laterally infinite slabs were calculated for an incident plane wave in the case of the wave-optical and a planar illumination for the Monte Carlo simulations. The energy densities calculated by the wave-optical methods were compared with the fluence rate calculated by the Monte Carlo simulations for different concentrations of spherical scattering particles in the slab.