Near-field Microwave Research Articles

Efficient 3D Image Reconstruction for Near-Field Microwave Imaging Using Dynamic Metasurface Antenna

In this paper, rapid reconstruction of a three-dimensional (3D) image of a scene for near-field microwave imaging using a dynamic metasurface antenna (DMA) is addressed. The imaging system consists of a fixed transmitting DMA and a single moving antenna as the receiver. In the proposed approach, after pre-processing the raw data and converting it into an applicable form for Fourier computations, the converted data are processed by the presented algorithm (all with fast Fourier computations, without the need for the heavy Stolt interpolation step). Furthermore, after extracting a closed-form expression for image reconstruction, a minimization problem is defined using the compressive-sensing (CS) theory, which allows a sparse pattern to be sampled instead of collecting full data, thereby significantly improving the data acquisition rate (according to the CS rate). The performance of the proposed approach is examined by computer simulations and analytical discussions.

Near-Field Microwave Tomography of Biological Tissues: Future Perspectives.

This overview shows the mapping of specific visualization techniques, depth assessment of the structure of the underlying tissues and used wavelengths of radiation. Medical imaging is currently one of the most dynamically developing areas of medical science. The main aim of the review is a systematization of information on the current status of the microwave imaging of biological objects, primarily of body tissues. The main options of microwave sensing of biological objects are analyzed. Two basic techniques for sensing differing evaluation parameters are characterized. They are microwave thermometry (passive) and near-field resonance imaging. The physical principles of microwave sensing application are discussed. It is shown that the resonant near-field microwave tomography allows visualization of the structure of biological tissues on the basis of the spatial distribution of their electrodynamic characteristics - permittivity and conductivity. Potential areas for this method in dermatology, including dermatooncology, are shown. The known results of applying the method to patients with dermatoses are given. The informativeness of the technology in the early diagnosis of melanoma is shown. The prospects of microwave diagnostics in combustiology, reconstructive and plastic surgery are demonstrated. Thus, microwave sensing is a modern, dynamically developing method of biophysical assessment of body tissues. There is a strong indication of the feasibility of application of microwave sensing in combustiology (in different periods of burn disease), as well as in reconstructive surgery. Further research in this and other areas of biomedicine will significantly expand the range of possibilities of modern technologies of visualization.

Focused Planar Electromagnetic Waves for Enhanced Near-Field Microwave Imaging With Verification Using Tapered Gradient-Index Lens Antenna

Focused Planar Electromagnetic Waves for Enhanced Near-Field Microwave Imaging With Verification Using Tapered Gradient-Index Lens Antenna

Broadband digital coding metasurface holography

Digital coding metasurfaces composed of subwavelength meta-atoms can flexibly control electromagnetic waves to achieve holography, which has great potential in millimeter-wave imaging systems and data storage. In this paper, we propose a 3-bit reflective digital coding metasurface. The incident linearly polarized waves can be transformed into cross-polarized components with distinct phase responses by adjusting the rotational and open angles of the coding elements. The 3-bit phase performance can be retained over a wide bandwidth from 12 to 18 GHz by simultaneously changing the rotational and open angles. Based on the proposed broadband metasurface, broadband holography is successfully demonstrated with the optimization of a modified Gerchberg–Saxton algorithm. As a proof of concept, five schemes with different holograms integrating the letters “S,” “E,” “U,” “X,” and “Z” are simulated from 12 to 18 GHz. Good simulation results validate the performance of the proposed broadband holography, showing a relative bandwidth of 40%. Two prototypes superposing the holograms of letters “U” and “X” are fabricated and measured in a near-field microwave anechoic chamber. The experimental results corroborate well with simulated results, further supporting the demonstration. We believe that the proposed broadband holography based on the digital coding metasurface paves a way to wideband applications for microwave imaging, information processing, and holographic data storage.

A Fern Antipodal Vivaldi Antenna for Near-Field Microwave Imaging Medical Applications

This investigation presents an oval slot edge (OSE) antipodal Vivaldi antenna (AVA), hereinafter referred to as Fern AVA (FAVA), with an optimized radiation pattern. The use of OSE provided improvements in the antenna characteristics, especially regarding a lower frequency limit reduction, an increase in the main lobe (ML) gain, and the sidelobe level (SLL) reduction. Those contrasting characteristics are simultaneously obtained through the class of the Palm Tree antennas. The proposed FAVA at 1.5 GHz shows an improved gain of 6.66 dB, −12.9 dB of SLL, and 0° of ML squint (MLS), in contrast with 4.41 dB of gain, −4.5 dB of SLL, and 4° of MLS in the conventional AVA. For the FAVA, the notches in an elliptical shape, in addition to mitigating the SLL, direct the <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${E}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> -fields distributions toward the ML, which categorizes it into the same class as the Palm Tree Vivaldi Antenna. To study the performance of the proposed antenna for medical applications of near-field microwave imaging, a conceptual proof was performed, thus obtaining the microwave image of a Child Head Phantom, homogeneous, and semirealistic, being possible to detect a brain tumor.

Imaging of magnetic excitations in nanostructures with near-field microwave microscopy

We present images of spin-wave excitations in a patterned yttrium iron garnet (YIG) thin film obtained by use of near-field microwave microscopy, which can achieve spatial resolution as high as 50 nm. Visualization of magnetic excitations is an enticing prospect for high-speed, high-density magnetic logic and storage applications, which has spurred the development of new magnetic microscopy and imaging techniques in recent years. Here we present a novel approach for local imaging of magnetic modes excited at room temperature with sub-diffraction-limited spatial resolution. This approach is based on a special atomic force microscope with broadband GHz capability for imaging the spatial distribution of dynamic magnetic excitations in patterned magnetic structures. Due to the inherent sub-wavelength, nanometer-scale spatial resolution of near-field scanning probe techniques, this approach has potential for a significant improvement in spatial resolution over optical techniques.

An approach to determine solution properties in micro pipes by near-field microwave microscopy

In this article, we propose a quantitative, non-destructive and noninvasive approach to obtain electromagnetic properties of liquid specimens utilizing a home-designed near-field microwave microscopy. The responses of aqueous solutions can be acquired with varying concentrations, types (CaCl2, MgCl2, KCl and NaCl) and tip–sample distances. An electromagnetic simulation model also successfully predicts the behaviors of saline samples. For a certain type of solutions with varying concentrations, the results are concaves with different bottoms, and the symmetric graphs of concave extractions can clearly identify different specimens. Moreover, we obtain electromagnetic images of capillaries with various saline solutions, as well as a Photinia × fraseri Dress leaf.

A Bra Monitoring System Using a Miniaturized Wearable Ultra-Wideband MIMO Antenna for Breast Cancer Imaging

This paper represents a miniaturized, dual-polarized, multiple input–multiple output (MIMO) wearable antenna. A vertically polarized, leaf-shaped antenna and a horizontally polarized, tree-shaped antenna are designed, and the performance of each antenna is investigated. After designing the MIMO antenna, it is loaded with stubs, parasitic spiral, and shorting pins to reduce the coupling effects and remove the unwanted resonances. Afterward, the two-port MIMO cells are spaced by 2 mm and rotated by 90° to create three more cells. The antennas are designed using two layers of denim and felt substrates with dielectric constants of 1.2 and 1.8, and thicknesses of 0.5 mm and 0.9 mm, respectively, along with the ShieldIt™ conductive textile. The antenna covers a bandwidth of 4.8–30 GHz when the specific absorption rate (SAR) meets the 1 g and 10 g standards. Isolation greater than 18 dB was obtained and mutual coupling was reduced after integrating shorting pins and spiral parasitic loadings. A maximum radiation efficiency and directive gain of 96% and 5.72 dBi were obtained, respectively, with the relatively small size of 11 × 11 × 1.4 mm3 for the single element and final dimensions of 24 × 24 × 1.4 mm3 for the full assembly. The antenna’s performance was examined for both on-body (breast) and free space conditions using near-field microwave imaging. The achieved results such as high fidelity, low SAR, and accuracy in localization of the tumour indicate that the MIMO antenna is a decent candidate for breast cancer imaging.

Frequency-Diverse Holographic Metasurface Antenna for Near-Field Microwave Computational Imaging

This article presents a holographic metasurface antenna with stochastically distributed surface impedance, which produces randomly frequency-diverse radiation patterns. Low mutual coherence electric field patterns generated by the holographic metasurface antenna can cover the K-band from 18 to 26 GHz with 0.1 GHz intervals. By utilizing the frequency-diverse holographic metasurface (FDHM) antenna, we build a near-field microwave computational imaging system based on reflected signals in the frequency domain. A standard horn antenna is adopted to acquire frequency domain signals radiated from the proposed FDHM antenna. A detail imaging restoration process is presented, and the desired targets are correctly reconstructed using the 81 frequency-diverse patterns through full-wave simulation studies. Compressed sensing technique and iterative shrinkage/thresholding algorithms are applied for the imaging reconstruction. The achieved compressive ratio of this computational imaging system on the physical layer is 30:1.

Detection of Anti-Counterfeiting Markers through Permittivity Maps Using a Micrometer Scale near Field Scanning Microwave Microscope.

This paper describes the use of microwave technology to identify anti-counterfeiting markers on banknotes. The proposed method is based on a robust near-field scanning microwave microscope specially developed to measure permittivity maps of heterogeneous paper specimens at the micrometer scale. The equipment has a built-in vector network analyzer to measure the reflection response of a near-field coaxial probe, which makes it a standalone and portable device. A new approach employing the information of a displacement laser and the cavity perturbation technique was used to determine the relationship between the dielectric properties of the specimens and the resonance response of the probe, avoiding the use of distance-following techniques. The accuracy of the dielectric measurements was evaluated through a comparative study with other well-established cavity methods, revealing uncertainties lower than 5%, very similar to the accuracy reported by other more sophisticated setups. The device was employed to determine the dielectric map of a watermark on a 20 EUR banknote. In addition, the penetration capabilities of microwave energy allowed for the detection of the watermark when concealed behind dielectric or metallic layers. This work demonstrates the benefits of this microwave technique as a novel method for identifying anti-counterfeiting features, which opens new perspectives with which to develop optically opaque markers only traceable through this microwave technique.

Методы подповерхностной СВЧ томографии, основанной на применении датчиков на отрезках двухпроводной линии.

In this paper, methods of near-field microwave tomography of the subsurface structure of dielectric inhomogeneities are proposed and studied based on the use of resonance probes with pieces of twin-wire lines as sensors. In frameworks of the quasi-static approximation, the integral equation of the inverse problem that relates measured variations of the complex capacity of the resonance system of probes placed above a medium with the inhomogeneous distribution of the complex permittivity. Based on this equation, methods and algorithms of tomography and holography have been proposed and worked out that used data of 2D scanning with variable offset between the sensor wires: (a) with the fixed direction of wires of sensor; (b) in two orthogonally related directions of sensor wires; (c) with the sensor of crossed twin-wire lines. Results of the numerical simulation demonstrate the efficiency of developed algorithms of subsurface tomography and holography.

Динамическая ближнепольная СВЧ диагностика легких.

Results of theoretical and experimental studies of the method of the near-field microwave tomography of the thorax are presented. Integral equations of inverse tomography problem of 3D blood- and air content inhomogeneities by data of multisensory measurements are obtained. Methods of air and blood content profiling in processes of breathing and heart activity by data of bistatic measurements of the scattered signal are proposed and solving algorithms of inverse problems are studied in the numerical simulation. Multifrequency and pulse measurements of scattered signals are carried out in processes of cardiorespiratory activity. By data of bistatic measurements of scattered signals parameters from the thorax, profiling relative air- and blood content profiles has been realized. Application possibilities of the method in the biomedical diagnostics are considered.

Effect of Eccentricity in Microwave Imaging of Multiple Composite Pipes

The use of non-metallic composites that are durable, low cost, and lightweight is growing fast in various industries. A commonly used form of these materials is in the shape of pipes that can be used, for instance, in oil and gas industry. Such pipes can be damaged due to material loss (defects and holes), erosions, and more which may cause major production failures or environmental mishaps. To prevent these issues, non-destructive testing (NDT) methods need to be employed for regular inspections of such components. Since traditional NDT methods are mainly used for metallic pipes, recently microwave imaging has been proposed as a promising approach for examination of non-metallic pipes. While microwave imaging can be employed for inspection of multiple layers of pipes, the effect of undesired eccentricity of the pipes can impose additional imaging errors. In this paper, for the first time, we study the effect of eccentricity of the pipes on the images reconstructed using near-field holographic microwave imaging when imaging double pipes.

In situ near-field microwave characterization and quantitative evaluation of phase change inclusion in honeycomb composites

Inclusions are common threats for honeycomb composites. Conventional non-destructive testing (NDT) methods mainly focused on inclusions in a specific phase state, while little attention has been paid to phase change inclusions under different service conditions. Herein, we conducted in situ detections of a phase change paraffin inclusion in honeycomb sandwich panels at different temperatures with a near-field microwave method. The scanning amplitude and phase images of subwavelength core cells and inclusions were obtained with super-resolution. The paraffin inclusion (melting point, 58°C) was characterized with a large amplitude decrease and phase delay in both the solid and liquid phases. Besides, the liquid paraffin inclusion at 100°C presented a whole shift of amplitude increase and phase decrease relative to the solid phase at 20°C. The boundaries of the phase change inclusion were accurately characterized using a characteristic peak method (CPM) with relative errors less than 0.5%. In summary, the near-field microwave method is feasible and effective for super-resolution detection and quantitative evaluation of phase change inclusions under varied service conditions.

Quantitative Characterization of Platinum Diselenide Electrical Conductivity With an Inverted Scanning Microwave Microscope

Near-field scanning microwave microscopy is a technique with increasing popularity for the study of nanometer-scale electrical properties of samples. Here, we present an approach to quantify sample properties in images obtained with an inverted scanning microwave microscope (iSMM), recently introduced by our group. In particular, this study reports the analysis of the local electrical conductivity of a platinum diselenide sample and proves its semimetal behavior. The approach is validated by a full-wave numerical model, reproducing the complete iSMM operation as well as all steps of the calibration algorithms. To extract local sample properties, this article provides two calibration procedures, respectively, for transmission and reflection mode measurements, based on a two-port equivalent circuit of the iSMM. This enables the high-frequency quantitative characterization of a wide variety of samples and surfaces.

A Microwave Near-field 3D Super-resolution Imaging Method

Microwave imaging is widely used in many areas involving non-destructive testing, biomedical imaging, radar detection and imaging, etc. However, there is a lack of microwave 3D imaging methods with lateral and depth super-resolution. We propose a microwave near-field 3D super-resolution imaging method based on the near-field scanning microwave microscopy (NSMM) technique, enabling lateral and depth super-resolution simultaneously. A resonant-cavity probe is designed to scan the first group of step samples to establish a linear equation between the phase of the normalized reflection coefficient (NS11) and the tip-sample distance ( $$\Delta H$$ ). The second group of samples is scanned at the resonance frequencies corresponding to $$\Delta H$$ , realizing the layer-by-layer imaging of the letter patterns. Finally, we have calculated the height information through the fitted linear equation and reconstructed the second group of step samples with letter patterns. The 3D reconstruction of the second group of step samples with letter patterns is completed. The depth variation of the step and the height of the letter patterns are 200 $$\mu m$$ (~ λ/570), which can be identified approximatively through experiments. And the letter patterns with a lateral width of 720 $$\mu m$$ (~ λ/160) are resolved. The experimental results show that our method has good feasibility in realizing microwave 3D imaging with depth and lateral super-resolution.

Real-Time Removal of Topographic Artifacts in Scanning Microwave Microscopy

Near-field scanning microwave microscopy (SMM) employs microwave radiation to image and characterize samples down to the atomic scale, including soft biological structures or inorganic materials, such as ferroelectric films. However, SMM generally also senses sample topography; hypersensitivity to topography becomes problematic with additional parasitic contributions and may partially or completely mask nontopographic sample features in the data, such as contrast in electrical conductivity or permittivity. This work proposes a simple and effective procedure to remove unwanted parasitic effects from SMM images. Differently from existing procedures, the method is applicable either in postprocessing or in real time, i.e., during the scanning operation. This allows the immediate visualization of nontopographic sample features in the instrument screen. As a proof of concept, hafnium zirconium oxide (HfZrO) ferroelectric film with high surface roughness is studied; unwanted contributions were removed from SMM data, providing a clear map of the sample ferroelectric structure that was originally hidden.

Improvement of spatial resolution by tilt correction in near-field scanning microwave microscopy

The limitation of mechanical manufacturing will result in a small tilt angle of the sample stage in the horizontal direction, which decreases the spatial resolution of imaging in near-field scanning microwave microscopy (NSMM). In this paper, we focus on the tilt correction and improve the spatial resolution of the NSMM image. The results of electromagnetic simulation and line scan measurement demonstrate the critical parameters affecting the sensitivity of NSMM, such as the length of the probe extending out of the cavity, the tip–sample distance, and the tip apex size. The tilt images can rotate successfully to the horizontal plane with the tilt correction methods, and the local average and re-interpolation are applied to denoise the images. Experimental NSMM images of copper thin film grid, coin texture, lithography mask, and leaf vein are obtained. The images before and after correction verify the improvement of the spatial resolution with all the above methods.

Electronic bandgap miniaturized UWB antenna for near-field microwave investigation of skin

Near-field microwave investigation and tomography has many practical applications, especially where the trend of fields and signals in different environments is vital. This article shows an elliptical patch ultra-wideband antenna fed by a transmission line for the near-field characterization of cancerous cells in the skin. The antenna comprises an elliptical patch, stub loading to shift the band to lower bands, and an electronic bandgap structure on the ground side. Even though the antenna has a low profile of 15 × 15 mm2, the proposed antenna has more promising results than recent studies. Furthermore, both simulated near-field and far-field results show a broad bandwidth of 3.9–30 GHz and a resonance at 2.4 GHz applicable for industrial, scientific, and medical band applications. The proposed antenna also illustrates a peak gain of 6.48 dBi and a peak directivity of 7.09 dBi. Free space and skin (on a layer of breast fat and a tumor with a diameter of 4 mm at the boundary of skin and breast) are used as test environments during the simulation and measurement of near-field and far-field investigations while considering a phantom breast shape. Both far-field and near-field microwave investigations are performed in Computer Simulation Technology studio, and results are then compared with the measured data. The simulated and measured results are in good agreement, and the focused energy around the tumor is completely reconstructed. Therefore, the proposed antenna can be an adequate candidate for the differentiation of breast skin and tumor to reconstruct the tumor’s image.

Microwave Magnetic Field Pattern Evaluation of Horn and Patch Antennas Using Cs Atomic Sensor

In this study, microwave (9.2 GHz) magnetic field radiation patterns of a horn antenna in the near-field (10 cm) and of a patch antenna in the near-field (3 mm, 2 cm) and far-field (10 cm) are measured using a Cs atomic sensor with $7\pi $ and $8~\sigma $ Zeeman double radio optical resonance (DROR) spectra at 6S1/2(F = 3, $\text{m}_{f}$ ) – 6S1/2 (F = 4, $\text{m}_{f}$ ) - 6P3/2(F = 4) transition by applying a 6 Gauss external magnetic field. Radiation patterns of a horn antenna and a patch antenna are characterized by measuring the DROR amplitude, while rotating the antennas 360 degrees relative to the atomic sensor, and the results are compared to patterns measured in the anechoic chamber using traditional methods. Radiation patterns in both polarizations are measured in a single full rotation, by measuring the $\pi $ and $\sigma $ Zeeman DROR fluorescence amplitudes at the same time. In addition, near-field microwave magnetic field radiation patterns of the patch antenna at orthogonal polarizations are measured at 3 mm distance by moving the antenna ±12.5 mm on the horizontal plane. Advantages and possible applications of small-sized atomic sensors in radiation pattern measurements at different polarizations and radiation analysis of complicated emitters such as circuit boards are discussed.