Microwave imaging: Reconstructions from experimental data using conjugate gradient and enhancement by edge-preserving regularization

A method for reconstructing the complex permittivity profile of lossy dielectric objects from measured scattered far-field data is presented. An iterative reconstruction algorithm based on a conjugate gradient method is derived from an integral representation of the electric field and applying a moment method solution. Results obtained from experimental data are shown for both known and unknown targets. Then, a new regularization procedure is developed to enhance the quality of the reconstruction. This method, based on a Markov random fields approach, models the object to be reconstructed by homogeneous areas separated by borderlike discontinuities. Finally, the enhancement is shown by the reconstruction of a polystyrene square cylinder.