Microwave imaging via iterated virtual experiments

The solution of inverse scattering problems is tackled by means of a novel iterative approach that relies on the emerging virtual scattering experiments' paradigm. In the virtual experiments framework, inverse scattering problems can be solved within a linear framework even for non-weak targets, thanks to the behavior of the fields enforced through proper rearrangements of the scattered field data. Such a concept is herein exploited within an iterative scheme, in which the virtual experiments are recast on the basis of intermediate results and the relevant Green's function updated at each iteration step. Examples dealing with both numerical and experimental data are provided to assess the effectiveness of the proposed method and to show that it overcomes the well-known Distorted Born iterative method, while preserving its flexibility and simplicity. As such, these results demonstrate that the virtual experiment framework can promote the exploitation of microwave imaging in real world applications.