An optimization approach for the localization of defects in an inhomogeneous medium from acoustic far-field measurements at a fixed frequency

TL;DR

This paper introduces an optimization-based method for locating defects in inhomogeneous media using acoustic far-field data at a fixed frequency, offering an alternative to traditional sampling techniques.

Contribution

It proposes a novel optimization approach inspired by the inf criterion of the factorization method to address localization problems in inhomogeneous media.

Findings

Effective localization of defects demonstrated

Optimization approach handles inhomogeneity

Compatible with fixed-frequency measurements

Abstract

We are interested in the localization of defects in non-absorbing inhomogeneous media with far-field measurements generated by plane waves. In localization problems, most so-called sampling methods are based on a characterization involving point-sources and the range of some implicitly defined operator. We present here a way to deal with this implicit operator by the means of an optimization approach in the lines of the well-known inf criterion for the factorization method.