title: Role of higher-order scattering in solutions to the forward and inverse optical-imaging problems in random media.
abstract: From analytical and numerical solutions that predict the scattering of diffuse photon density waves and from experimental measurements of changes in phase shift theta and ac amplitude demodulation M caused by the presence of single and double cylindrical heterogeneities, we show that second- and higher-order perturbations can affect the prediction of the propagation characteristics of diffuse photon density waves. Our experimental results for perfect absorbers in a lossless medium suggest that the performance of fast inverse-imaging algorithms that use first-order Born or Rytov approximations might have inherent limitations compared with inverse solutions that use iterative solutions of a linear perturbation equation or numerical solutions of the diffusion equation.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Sevick-Muraca
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Heintzelman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Troy
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Paithankar