Multiple passages of light through an absorption inhomogeneity in optical imaging of turbid media

Abstract

The multiple passages of light through an absorption inhomogeneity of finite size deep within a turbid medium is analyzed for optical imaging using the ``self-energy'' diagram. The nonlinear correction becomes more important for an inhomogeneity of a larger size and with greater contrast in absorption with respect to the host background. The nonlinear correction factor agrees well with that from Monte Carlo simulations for CW light. The correction is about $50%-75%$ in near infrared for an absorption inhomogeneity with the typical optical properties found in tissues and of size of five times the transport mean free path.