Optimal Penetration in Debye-Model Dielectrics Using the Brillouin Precursor Pulse

Abstract

With proper initial conditions, interrelated phase and attenuation dispersion effects modify an ultrawideband pulse into precursor fields. Because of its minimal decay in a given Debye-model dielectric, a Brillouin precursor pulse possesses near optimal penetration that is bounded above by the spectral maximum frequency-chirped Lambert–Beer’s law limit and below by the effective frequency-chirped Lambert–Beer’s law limit, making it ideally suited for ground and foliage penetrating radar as well as through wall and medical imaging.