Fluorescence photon-density waves in optically diffusive media

Intensity-modulated light launches traveling photon-density waves into opti cally diffusive media. In the presence of a fluorophore, excitation photon- density waves generate fluorescence photon-density waves that can be quanti tatively described using diffusion theory. We examine a number of limiting cases of the fluorescence photon-density wave to clarify its physical meani ng and its implications in quantitative fluorescence spectroscopy of diffus ive media. Our discussion may guide the development of experimental protoco ls for quantitative fluorescence spectroscopy in optically diffusive media. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.