title: On the accuracy of generalized Fokker-Planck transport equations in tissue optics.
abstract: Forward-peaked and large-angle scattering approximations of the radiative transport equation give rise to generalized Fokker-Planck equations whose main feature is the replacement of the integral scattering operator with differential operators in the direction-space variables. Using the P(N) method, an appraisal of generalized Fokker-Planck equations due to González-Rodríguez and Kim [Appl. Opt.47, 2599-2609 (2008)], Leakeas and Larsen [Nucl. Sci. Eng.137, 236-250 (2001), and J. Opt. Soc. Am. A20, 92-98 (2003)], and Pomraning [Math. Models Meth. Appl. Sci.2, 21-36 (1992)] is carried out by computing the relative error between the backscattered and transmitted surface flux predicted by the generalized Fokker-Planck equations and the transport equation with Henyey-Greenstein phase function for anisotropies ranging from 0 to 1. Generalized Fokker-Planck equations whose scattering operators incorporate large-angle scattering and possess eigenvalues similar to the integral scattering operator with Henyey-Greenstein phase function are found to minimize the relative error in the limit of unit anisotropy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, L468R Portland, Oregon 97201, USA. phillkev@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: Kevin G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lancellotti
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D016880:Anisotropy; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008027:Light; D015233:Models, Statistical; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D010825:Physics / Q000295:instrumentation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012542:Scattering, Radiation