Light propagation in a fractal tissue model: a critical study of the phase function

Abstract

Within the framework of a discrete particle model, we examine the effects of particle shape and particle inhomogeneity on the scattering phase function of a biomedical soft tissue. Assuming a fractal size distribution for the scattering particles in the tissue, we show that the backscattering increase observed in some experimentally measured phase functions can be reproduced qualitatively by assuming coated spheres as the scattering particles. It is noted that the shape effects do not play an important role in contributing to backscattering enhancement in the phase function.