ABSORPTION-COEFFICIENT MEASUREMENTS OF STRONGLY SCATTERING MEDIA USING TIME-RESOLVED TRANSMITTANCE OF A SHORT-PULSE IN NEAR-INFRARED (NIR) WAVELENGTH RANGE

Absorption coefficient measurements of strongly scattering and weakly absorbing media have been performed using time resolved transmittance of a 100 fs pulse through a 30 mm slab containing latex spheres suspen ded in water and absorbing ink solutions. The scattering and absorptio n coefficients were selected so that the optical properties of the med ia were similar to those of biological tissues. Measured curves of tim e-resolved transmittance of the pulse through the media were used to e stimate the optical properties of the media. The experiment was made a t two different wavelengths, 784 nm and 810 nm. Estimated absorption c oefficients were in good agreement with those measured in a nonscatter ing case by a spectrophotometer.