A fast uniform 3D near-field microwave imaging method for layered media

Abstract

In near-field imaging of dense layered media, the forward model is complicated by material discontinuities, multi-reflections, refractions, antenna pattern effects, and coupling effects between the antenna and layers. Overcoming the non-uniformities caused by the antenna gain pattern and discontinuous media in the imaging function, a fast uniform near-field algorithm is developed to obtain smooth and continuous imaging results through stratified structures, and can be achieved with a portable device. Near-field measured data is processed to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed fast uniform microwave imaging algorithm.