Abstract
The equation of radiative transfer (ERT) is generally accepted as the most accurate model for light propagation in biological tissues. The ERT is notoriously expensive to solve numerically. Recently, Klose and Larsen have approximated the time-independent ERT using the simplified spherical harmonics equations ( <i>SP<sub>N</sub></i> approximation). In this work, we outline how to derive the <i>SP<sub>N</sub></i> approximation of the time-dependent ERT and obtain the associated integro- partial differential equations involving temporal convolution integrals. No approximation is made as regards the time variable in our derivation. To simplify the numerical solution of these equations, we introduce a "memory function". We discuss the numerical solution for <i>N</i> = 1 in the 2D and homogeneous case. We provide time evolution maps of the solution and compare it with the diffusion approximation of the ERT. The findings presented here straightforwardly extend to 3D inhomogeneous media and for higher values of <i>N</i>. These more complicated cases along with further details will be reported elsewhere.
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