The main focus of BRO’s Bio Optics Tutorial is volume light scattering and fluorescence with emphasis on, but not restricted to, applications in life sciences. The tutorial gives participants the knowledge and skills they need to model the optical performance of biomedical systems and instruments with BRO’s ASAP software package. Participants balance theory with hands-on experience by applying each lesson in a series of practice sessions.

Course Overview
The course covers the simulation and analysis of volume light scattering and fluorescence, based on the ASAP software program. A thorough introduction into the underlying physics is given. Basic knowledge about light scattering and fluorescence is not needed. Basic concepts are explained both theoretically and in practice sessions. Standard measurement techniques are discussed and simulated using ASAP.

Prerequisites*

  • Completion of BRO’s Introductory ASAP Tutorial or equivalent knowledge and experience
  • Ability to build and view elementary systems with surface and edge-based entities
  • Ability to define and trace rays from various sources, and perform power, irradiance, and intensity calculations
  • Ability to comfortably write and run command scripts and macros

Course Outline
Light scattering by a single particle

  • Introduction into the phenomenology of light scattering
  • Observable quantities: cross-sections, efficiencies and the phase function
  • Mie theory

Scattering media

  • Quantities to measure the amount of scatters: number density, volume concentration and area obscuration per length
  • Particle size distributions

Multiple scattering

  • Radiative transfer and Monte Carlo simulation
  • Phenomenological radiative transfer equation and the Henyey-Greenstein model
  • Inhomogeneous media
  • User-defined scattering models
  • Analysis of light propagation and absorption inside a scattering media using VOXELS

Fluorescence

  • Physical background
  • Fluorescence measurement methods
  • Simulation and analysis methods

* If you are unsure that you meet these requirements, please speak with the instructor prior to enrolling in the class.
This Advanced Tutorial is a three-day course limited to 16 participants.