GPU-based Monte Carlo Photon Migration Algorithm with Path-partition Load Balancing

A parallel Monte Carlo photon migration algorithm for graphics processing units that implements an improved load-balancing strategy is presented. Conventional parallel Monte Carlo photon migration algorithms suffer from a computational bottleneck due to their reliance on a simple load-balancing strategy that does not take into account the different length of the mean free paths of the photons. In this paper, path-partition load balancing is proposed to eliminate this computational bottleneck based on a mathematical formula that parallelizes the photon path tracing process, which has previously been considered non-parallelizable. The performance of the proposed algorithm is tested using three-dimensional photon migration simulations of a human skin model.