Improvement of quasi-monostatic frequency-swept microwave imaging of conducting objects using illumination diversity technique

In this paper, a quasi-monostatic frequency-swept microwave imaging system using illumination diversity technique is proposed to have an efficient scattered field acquisition arrangement. The measurement system, calibration method, and experimental results are presented. The image reconstruction principle is developed under physical optics approximation. Reconstructed images of the continuous, discrete conducting objects and B-52 model aircraft measured in the frequency range 7.5-12.5 GHz are shown to be in good agreement with the scattering object geometries. The images reconstructed with and without using illumination diversity technique are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the developed microwave imaging system.