Monte Carlo simulations and experiments of Bessel beams and tissue-like phantoms interaction

Abstract

In this thesis, the propagation of Bessel beam in tissue and its potential advantages were explored numerically and experimentally. In the numerical simulations, the Monte Carlo method is used to simulate the propagation of Gaussian and Bessel beams in tissue. By convolving the impulse profile generated by a pencil beam’s propagation with either beam intensity profile, the response of the propagation of the said beam can be approximated. This process was done by modifying and using MCML and CONV software which are available from the literature. Experimentally, the Bessel beams were generated by a laser and axicons, and made to propagate through optical phantoms formed with variable density intralipid solutions. The intensity distribution of the transmitted Bessel beam at the exit of the scattering media was measured and compared with transmittance results from simulation. At last, a separate experiment was designed to investigate the reconstruction of a Bessel beam after it passes the optical phantom.