Gas diffusion in porous media

by D. S. Grebenkov

Laboratory of Condensed Matter Physics,
CNRS - Ecole Polytechnique
91128 Palaiseau Cedex France

Email: denis.grebenkov@polytechnique.edu


Diffusion MRI is a non-invasive experimental technique which is 
often used to probe the microstructure of biological tissues 
(brain, lungs) and mineral porous media (rocks, cements). In
this talk, we review some theoretical and numerical studies 
of the intricate relation between the microstructure and the 
macroscopic signal. Starting from the classical Gaussian phase 
approximation, we discuss limitations of apparent diffusion 
coefficients and notable deviations from Gaussian behavior, 
potential pitfalls of phenomenological models, and more recent 
developments such as matrix formalism and two-dimensional 
correlation experiments.