Monte Carlo approximation of form factors with error bounded a priori (Q1355196)

A form factor is the fraction of energy leaving a surface element which directly reaches another surface element. In this paper, an integral geometric interpretation to form factors is given using the style and notation of \textit{L. A. Santaló} [Integral geometry and geometric probability (1976; Zbl 0342.53049)]. With this interpretation, the author develops a new and asymptotically efficient Monte Carlo method for the simultaneous approximation of all form factors in an occluded polyhedral environment. This algorithm is, for typical scences, one order of magnitude faster than methods based on the hemisphere paradigm or on Monte Carlo ray-shooting, and the error is bounded without recourse to special hypothesis.