We describe the application of path integrals to the problem of light propagation in turbid media. The photon propagation process is separated into an absorption dependent part and a part that depends only on scattering. We determine the nonabsorption photon path and nonabsorption probability distribution function, from which other measurable optical parameters can be obtained. As an example, we calculate the diffuse reflectance for a semi-infinite medium and obtain a new result which reduces to a previously derived expression in the approximate limiting case.

• Received 16 February 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.72.1341