Application limits of the scaling relations for Monte Carlo simulations in diffuse optics. Part 2: results

Area of Science:

• Biomedical optics
• Computational physics
• Photonics

Background:

• Monte Carlo simulations are crucial for modeling photon migration in scattering media.
• Scaling relations offer a method to efficiently generate new simulations from existing ones.
• Understanding the applicability limits of these scaling relations is vital for accurate simulation outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the applicability and limitations of scaling relations for generating new photon migration simulations.
• To analyze the convergence properties of scaling relations for both continuous wave and time-domain cases.
• To provide practical guidelines for using scaling relations in Monte Carlo simulations.

Main Methods:

• Numerical analysis of convergence properties for scaling absorption and scattering coefficients.
• Evaluation of scaling relations for both forward and inverse problems in photon migration.
• Development of criteria to assess the convergence of scaling factors based on scattering events.

Main Results:

• Scaling the absorption coefficient provides rigorous convergence for both forward and inverse problems, preserving noise characteristics.
• Scaling the scattering coefficient can lead to significant deviations in forward problems, particularly with numerous scattering events.
• Scaling relations for inverse problems yield accurate simulations, though with increased noise compared to direct calculations.

Conclusions:

• Scaling relations are a valuable tool for increasing Monte Carlo simulation throughput, especially for large dataset generation in machine learning and fast data analysis.
• Careful application of scaling relations, with specific attention to scattering coefficient adjustments, is necessary for reliable simulation results.
• The study provides a deeper understanding of the physics behind scaling relations and practical guidance for their judicious use.