Imaging Contrast and Resolution in Multiply Scattered Low Coherence Interferometry

With recent results demonstrating imaging using low coherence interferometry to detect multiply scattered light, signal attenuation and imaging resolution remains to be an open question. To address this, we present detailed modeling results of light propagation in the multiply scattered low-coherence interferometry (ms/LCI) configuration. Analytical and Monte Carlo models are used to assess the theoretical resolution and contrast of the system, and to explore the effect of media anisotropy on imaging parameters. Imaging resolution and depth penetration are found to depend on the fraction of photons scattered into a narrow range of forward scattering angles rather than the overall media anisotropy.