Ultrawideband Microwave RADAR: Time Reversal and Inverse Scattering experiments

Today, non-destructive electromagnetic imaging is a key technology. Its applications include early detection of cancer, fault detection in building materials, sub-surface characterization of the soil, and landmine detection. This book follows a marked experimental approach. It describes the design of an antenna array RADAR prototype able to acquire data and perform beamforming within the [2-4] GHz frequency band. On one hand, qualitative imaging experiments have been performed. Time Reversal, as well as DORT and TR-MUSIC methods, has been applied to detect and localize scattering objects both in free-space and reverberating media. On the other hand, the prototype has been used for quantitative inverse scattering in very aspect-limited configurations. For this purpose, a non-linearized iterative algorithm has been adapted to the experimental setup through an accurate calibration procedure. Finally, the possibility of exploiting the features of Time Reversal within the quantitative frame has been studied. The goal is the improvement of the reconstruction of targets in random media mimicking those typical of medical imaging or sub-surface probing applications.