Towards direct measurements of remitted photon path lengths in skin: kinetic studies in the range 520-800 nm

Skin-remitted picosecond laser pulses have been detected at variable input-output fiber distances (8 … 20 mm) in the spectral range 520-800 nm, with subsequent analysis of the pulse shape changes. Transfer functions representing the temporal responses of remitted photons to infinitely narrow δ-pulse excitation have been calculated. Parameters related to the photon path length in skin – input-output pulse peak delays, pulse FWHM, travel times of the “initial” photons and distributions of the remitted photon path lengths – are presented and analyzed. The measurement results are in general agreement with the photon propagation model expectations