Advances in Microwave Near-Field Imaging: Prototypes, Systems, and Applications

Microwave imaging employs detection techniques to evaluate hidden or embedded objects in a structure or media using electro-magnetic (EM) waves in the microwave range, 300 MHz-300 GHz. Microwave imaging is often associated with radar detection such as target location and tracking, weather-pattern recognition, and underground surveillance, which are far-field applications. In recent years, due to microwaves' ability to penetrate optically opaque media, short-range applications, including medical imaging, nondestructive testing (NDT) and quality evaluation, through-the-wall imaging, and security screening, have been developed. Microwave near-field imaging most often occurs when detecting the profile of an object within the short range (when the distance from the sensor to the object is less than one wavelength to several wave-lengths) and depends on the electrical size of the antenna(s) and target.