Time and direction of arrival detection and filtering for imaging in strongly scattering random media

TL;DR

This paper introduces a robust method for detecting the direction of arrival of echoes from small reflectors in heavily cluttered media, enhancing imaging resolution by filtering out strong multiple scattering effects.

Contribution

It develops an adaptive time-frequency filtering technique to accurately detect and suppress clutter backscatter, improving imaging in strongly scattering random media.

Findings

Enhanced imaging resolution in cluttered environments

Effective detection of small reflectors amidst heavy scattering

Validated method with realistic numerical simulations

Abstract

We study detection and imaging of small reflectors in heavy clutter, using an array of transducers that emits and receives sound waves. Heavy clutter means that multiple scattering of the waves in the heterogeneous host medium is strong and overwhelms the arrivals from the small reflectors. Building on the adaptive time-frequency filter of [1], we propose a robust method for detecting the direction of arrival of the direct echoes from the small reflectors, and suppressing the unwanted clutter backscatter. This improves the resolution of imaging. We illustrate the performance of the method with realistic numerical simulations in a non-destructive testing setup.