RWMCS – An alternative random walk Monte Carlo code to simulate light scattering in biological suspensions

In biological suspensions, the forward light scattering is done mainly by the contribution of the suspended cells. The multiple scattering is almost always unavoidable, its contribution being described by Monte Carlo simulations or by approximate analytical formula. The Monte Carlo approach we propose moves one photon at a time and checks all scattering centers to find, at each simulation step, which one will scatter the photon. The validation of the simulation results is performed by comparing the obtained angular distribution with the predictions of the effective phase function theory reported recently in the literature and with the angle resolved experimental measurements performed on human red blood cells (RBCs) in suspensions at different hematocrits. The results show a good agreement in the small concentration range.