High resolution microwave imaging simulation of a human neck

A three-dimensional real-time quantitative dielectric imaging (QDI/sup TM/) technique that achieves high resolution with long wavelength is proposed. Results of imaging simulation of a human neck from the Visible Human anatomical photographic images are presented. No weak scatterer or symmetry constraint is required. The technique utilizes a near-field inversion formulation to break through the wavelength limitation, which is borne by the conventional diffractional approach. Obviating diffraction and interference formulas has the advantages of allowing longer wavelengths, which encounter much less attenuation, and having higher tolerance to phase noises in the measurement of scattering fields; indeed, the scattering fields can sustain a Gaussian random phase noise of as much as 10" without any deterioration in image quality. Contrary to the diffraction approach, of which the voxel size is proportional to the wavelength, QDI/sup TM/ yields equally clear images with wavelengths from 10/sup 2/ to 10/sup 6/ times the voxel size.