Comparison of independent forward solvers for photon migration through layered media

We present a multi-laboratory comparison of several independent forward solvers used for photon migration through layered media. Two main categories of forward solvers are presented: Monte Carlo procedures and solutions of the diffusion equation for the time domain. For Monte Carlo we have included four independent codes. For the solutions of the diffusion equation, we have presented: two semi-analytical approaches based on the Green's function method and one solution obtained with the finite element method. The comparisons between the different time-dependent solutions were performed for a two-layer medium. © 2011 SPIE.