Detection using microwaves and self-adjoint sensitivity analysis

A novel general formulation of the response sensitivity analysis has been proposed recently. This sensitivity-analysis method has enabled the development of a conceptually new detection algorithm. The performance of this algorithm was tested on a realistic breast-tumour detection problem through ultra-wideband time-domain simulations. The detection relies on images obtained from the response derivatives with respect to the voxel permittivities and conductivities in the modelled “background” medium, which is a close approximation of the healthy (or normal) breast tissue. Abnormal regions in the object under test are successfully detected and localized after increasing sufficiently the number of transmission/reception points.