SPIE - Education Monte Carlo Modeling Explained SC1152

Monte Carlo modeling is widely used in biomedical optics to describe light transport in complicated situations where closed-form solutions to analytical models do not exist. While this standard definition describes Monte Carlo modeling as powerful and flexible, which it is, it also sounds overly-complicated, which it is not! This course will provide an introduction into both the theoretical concepts and real-world applications of Monte Carlo modeling of light transport in tissue. The course will provide an interactive description of how the stochastic sampling methods can be used to simulate individual photon-tissue interactions during photon propagation. Attendees will be also be given experience using basic Monte Carlo models and examples will highlight how to develop simulations that accurately mimic experimental measurements. This course would be instructive for anyone who is interested in using Monte Carlo models to guide design choices for new optical measurement approaches.