Axial and diffusion models of the laser pulse propagationin a highly-scattering medium

The propagation of laser radiation through a layer of a highly-scattering medium (HSM) is considered on the basis of two theoretical models: a nonstationary axial (two-flux) model and a nonstationary diffusion model. Analytic expressions for the temporal distributions of the photons of an ultrashort laser pulse transmitted through the HSM are presented. Experimental temporal distributions are used to obtain the parameters of models corresponding to an HSM, to determine the theoretical temporal distributions, and to compare them with the experimental curves. These two theoretical models are compared quantitatively for the first time. Their advantages and drawbacks that must be considered in the development of HSM transmission optical tomography are pointed out.