In the literature one can encounter at least two different radiative transfer equations for media with spatially varying refractive indices. These are the results of Ferwerda [J. Opt. A Pure Appl. Opt. 1, L1 (1999)] and Tualle and Tinet [Opt. Commun. 228, 33 (2003)]. Accordingly, two different diffusion approximations are derived from these two radiative transfer equations. I reconsider the derivation of the radiative transfer equation in a medium with an inhomogeneous refractive index and confirm the result of Tualle and Tinet. In the diffusion approximation, a simple analytical solution has been found for the steady-state illumination of a nonabsorbing turbid medium with a varying refractive index.

© 2004 Optical Society of America

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Citation lists with outbound citation links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article level metrics are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

Related Journal Articles

• Diffusion coefficient in photon diffusion theory (OL)
• Spatially resolved backscattering: implementation of extrapolation boundary condition and exponential source (JOSAA)
• Photon diffusion coefficient in an absorbing medium (JOSAA)
• Monte Carlo study of diffuse reflectance at source–detector separations close to one transport mean free path (JOSAA)
• Photon migration at short times and distances and in cases of strong absorption: errata (JOSAA)

Related Conference Papers

• Accuracy tests of frequency domain immersion technique
• Morphological information from polarized light scattering
• Modelling the Influence of Interfaces and Multiples Layers on Light Propagation in a Slab Geometry with the Radiative Transport Equation
• Modeling Light Propagation in Tissues Using the Corrected Diffusion Approximation
• Corrected Diffusion Approximation in Layered Tissues