Numerical Methods to Implement Time Reversal of Waves Propagating in Complex Random Media
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Date
2003-08-18
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Abstract
A time reversal mirror is a device capable of receiving a signal in time, keeping it in memory, and sending it back into the same medium in the reversed direction of time. The main effect is the fascinating refocusing of the scattered signal, which is formed by sending the pulse into a complex medium, after time reversal through the same medium. The refocused signal is a pulse with shape similar to the initial pulse along with some low amplitude noise. This surprising effect has a great potential for application in domains such as medical imaging, underwater acoustics and wireless communication.
Time reversal is studied in reflection and transmission. In both cases, we demonstrate the self-averaging properties of the time reversed refocused pulse. An accurate numerical method for simulating waves propagating in complex one-dimensional media is employed. Numerical simulations are used to reproduce the time-reversal self-averaging effect which takes place in randomly layered media. The effect of refocusing is enhanced in a regime where the inhomogenities are smaller than the pulse, which propagates over long distances compared to its width.
Time Reversal can be implemented using several numerical methods including Transfer Matrix, Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) & Boundary Integral Methods. This thesis includes a comprehensive comparison of the methods in terms of speed and accuracy.
The most efficient method for implementing time reversal is then used to obtain numerical evidence for potential use of a sliding window time-reversal technique for detecting a buried cavity/object inside the medium. The numerical methods are well adapted for generalization to the multi-dimensional case.
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Keywords
Finite Difference Time Domain Method, Boundary Integral Method, Transfer Matrix Method, Wave Propagation, Time Reversal
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Degree
MS
Discipline
Electrical Engineering
