Short-range microwave inverse scattering techniques for image reconstruction and applications

This paper deals with microwave imaging techniques based on electromagnetic inverse scattering and devoted to nondestructive testing, civil engineering, and scientific and medical applications. In particular, the focus is on spatial-domain algorithms for short-range reconstruction of dielectric objects. Some of the most significant approaches recently proposed in the literature are considered and some trends of the present research activity on this topic are briefly discussed, although it is really difficult to establish precise directions for this research, as the range of proposal is now very wide and the related activities evolve rapidly. Finally, two stochastic inversion methodologies are presented and questions concerning their effectiveness in the light of practical applications are addressed.