Hybrid Monte Carlo for photon transport through optically thick scattering media

A Monte Carlo simulation code developed to model time-domain transillumination measurements with small-area detectors through an optically thick scattering slab is presented. A hybrid approach has been implemented to reduce calculation times. Most of the scattering slab is treated stochastically, albeit with variance reduction techniques and the isotropic diffusion similarity rule. The contribution to the output signal per unit area and time of photon packets propagating in a thin slice near the output face of the slab is calculated analytically after each propagation step. This approach drastically reduces the calculation time but produces spikes in the temporal signals. (C) 1999 Optical Society of America.