Recent developments in the qualitative approach to inverse electromagnetic scattering theory

We consider the inverse scattering problem of determining both the shape and some of the physical properties of the scattering object from a knowledge of the (measured) electric and magnetic fields due to the scattering of an incident time-harmonic electromagnetic wave at fixed frequency. We shall discuss the linear sampling method for solving the inverse scattering problem which does not require any a priori knowledge of the geometry and the physical properties of the scatterer. Included in our discussion is the case of partially coated objects and inhomogeneous background. We give references for numerical examples for each problem discussed in this paper.     

Stable methods for an inverse problem in acoustic scattering by an obstacle and an inhomogeneous medium

We consider (in two-dimensional Euclidean space) the scattering of a plane, time-harmonic acoustic wave by an inhomogeneous medium Ω with compact support and a bounded obstacle D lying completely outside of the inhomogeneous medium. We show that one may determine the shape of D and the local speed of sound in Ω from a knowledge of the asymptotic behavior of the scattered wave (i.e. the far field). This is done by considering a constrained optimization problem and employing integral equation and conformal mapping techniques. By assuming a priori that the functions which determine the shape of D and the local speed of sound in Ω lie in given compact sets, we show that the problem is stable, in the sense that the solution of the inverse scattering problem depends continuously on the far field data.     

Preconditioning techniques for the iterative solution of scattering problems

We consider a time-harmonic electromagnetic scattering problem for an inhomogeneous medium. Some symmetry hypotheses on the refractive index of the medium and on the electromagnetic fields allow to reduce this problem to a two-dimensional scattering problem. This boundary value problem is defined on an unbounded domain, so its numerical solution cannot be obtained by a straightforward application of usual methods, such as for example finite difference methods, and finite element methods. A possible way to overcome this difficulty is given by an equivalent integral formulation of this problem, where the scattered field can be computed from the solution of a Fredholm integral equation of second kind. The numerical approximation of this problem usually produces large dense linear systems. We consider usual iterative methods for the solution of such linear systems, and we study some preconditioning techniques to improve the efficiency of these methods. We show some numerical results obtained with two well known Krylov subspace methods, i.e., Bi-CGSTAB and GMRES.     

The efficient solution of electromagnetic scattering for inhomogeneous media

We consider an electromagnetic scattering problem for inhomogeneous media. In particular, we focus on the numerical computation of the electromagnetic scattered wave generated by the interaction of an electromagnetic plane wave and an inhomogeneity in the corresponding propagation medium. This problem is studied in the VV polarization case, where some special symmetry requirements for the incident wave and for the inhomogeneity are assumed. This problem is reformulated as a Fredholm integral equation of second kind, which is discretized by a linear system having a special form. This allows to compute efficiently an approximate solution of the scattering problem by using iterative techniques for linear systems. Some numerical examples are reported.     

A Modified Linear Sampling Method Valid for all Frequencies and an Application to the Inverse Inhomogeneous Medium Problem

We consider the inverse inhomogeneous medium scattering problem in acoustics where one tries to recover the support of anomalies in a medium by interrogating the region of interest with plane waves at fixed frequency. We discuss the validity of the Linear Sampling Method (LSM) for solving this inverse problem, and its connection to an unusual eigenvalue problem. It turns out that the existence of non-trivial solutions of the so-called interior transmission eigenvalue problem results in the failure of the LSM. We then propose a modification of the LSM that avoids these shortcomings and is numerically sound. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The factorization method for cracks in inhomogeneous media

We consider the inverse scattering problem of determining the shape and location of a crack surrounded by a known inhomogeneous media. Both the Dirichlet boundary condition and a mixed type boundary conditions are considered. In order to avoid using the background Green function in the inversion process, a reciprocity relationship between the Green function and the solution of an auxiliary scattering problem is proved. Then we focus on extending the factorization method to our inverse shape reconstruction problems by using far field measurements at fixed wave number. We remark that this is done in a non intuitive space for the mixed type boundary condition as we indicate in the sequel.     

The inside–outside duality for elastic scattering problems

In this article, we derive the inside–outside duality for two time-harmonic, elastic scattering problems. First, we consider a rigid scattering object inside an isotropic, homogeneous background medium and second, we consider a penetrable, inhomogeneous scattering object inside this background medium. For the first scattering problem, we make use of the particular behavior or certain eigenvalues of the corresponding far field operator to characterize interior Dirichlet eigenvalues of the negative Navier operator. Then we adapt this technique to determine interior transmission eigenvalues that correspond to the second scattering problem.     

An inequality for the reduced wave operator and the justification of geometrical optics

We present an inequality for the reduced wave operator in the exterior of a star-shaped surface in n-space, with a Dirichlet boundary condition on the surface and a radiation condition at infinity. This inequality is used to demonstrate the continuous dependence (in a suitable norm) of the solution of a scattering problem upon the boundary data and inhomogeneous term in the differential equation. This basic result is then used together with the results of D. Ludwig [7] to prove that the formal solution of the scattering problem for a convex body, which is given by geometrical optics, is asymptotic to the exact solution. Similar results have been given in two dimensions by V. S. Buslaev [1] and R. Grimshaw [2], using different methods, who also consider the Neumann problem. Unfortunately the methods used here are inapplicable in that case.     

The linear sampling method for anisotropic media

We consider the inverse scattering problem of determining the support of an anisotropic inhomogeneous medium from a knowledge of the incident and scattered time harmonic acoustic wave at fixed frequency. To this end, we extend the linear sampling method from the isotropic case to the case of anisotropic medium. In the case when the coefficients are real we also show that the set of transmission eigenvalues forms a discrete set.     

Analysis and optimization in problems of cloaking of material bodies for the Maxwell equations

We consider control problems for the 3D Maxwell equations describing electromagnetic wave scattering in an unbounded inhomogeneous medium that contains a permeable isotropic obstacle with cloaking boundary. Such problems arise when studying cloaking problems by the optimization method. The boundary coefficient occurring in the impedance boundary condition plays the role of a control. We study the solvability of the control problem and derive optimality systems that describe necessary conditions for the extremum. By analyzing the constructed optimality systems, we justify sufficient conditions imposed on the input data providing the uniqueness and stability of optimal solutions.     

Variational Approach to Scattering by Inhomogeneous Layers Above Rough Surfaces

In this paper, we study, via variational methods, the problem of scattering of time harmonic acoustic waves by unbounded inhomogeneous layers above a sound soft rough surface. We first propose a variational formulation and exploit it as a theoretical tool to prove the well-posedness of this problem when the media is non-absorbing for arbitrary wave number and obtain an estimate about the solution, which exhibit explicitly dependence of bound on the wave number and on the geometry of the domain. Then, based on the non-absorbing results, we show that the variational problem remains uniquely solvable when the layer is absorbing by means of a priori estimate of the solution. Finally, we consider the finite element approximation of the problem and give an error estimate.     

Variational Approach to Scattering by Inhomogeneous Layers Ab ove Rough Surfaces

In this paper, we study, via variational methods, the problem of scattering of time harmonic acoustic waves by unbounded inhomogeneous layers above a sound soft rough surface. We first propose a variational formulation and exploit it as a theoretical tool to prove the well-posedness of this problem when the media is non-absorbing for arbitrary wave number and obtain an estimate about the solution, which exhibit explicitly dependence of bound on the wave number and on the geometry of the domain. Then, based on the non-absorbing results, we show that the variational problem remains uniquely solvable when the layer is absorbing by means of a priori estimate of the solution. Finally, we consider the finite element approximation of the problem and give an error estimate.     

Uniqueness for the determination of sound-soft defects in an inhomogeneous planar medium by acoustic boundary measurements

We consider the inverse problem of determining shape and location of sound-soft defects inside a known planar inhomogeneous and anisotropic medium through acoustic imaging at low frequency. In order to determine the defects, we perform acoustic boundary measurements, with prescribed boundary conditions of different types. We prove that at most two, suitably chosen, measurements allow us to uniquely determine multiple defects under minimal regularity assumptions on the defects and the medium containing them. Finally, we treat applications of these results to the case of inverse scattering.

     

On recovering obstacles inside inhomogeneities

We consider acoustic scattering from an obstacle inside an inhomogeneous structure. We prove in the paper that if the outside inhomogeneity is known then the obstacle and possible inside inhomogeneity are uniquely determined by the fixed energy far field data. The proof is based on new mapping properties of layer potentials in spaces that specify one point. © 1998 B. G. Teubner Stuttgart–John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Approximate acoustic cloaking in inhomogeneous isotropic space

We consider the approximate acoustic cloaking in an inhomogeneous isotropic background space.By employing transformation media,together with the use of a sound-soft layer lining right outside the cloaked region,we show that one can achieve the near-invisibility by the"blow-up-a-small-region"construction.This is based on novel scattering estimates corresponding to multiple multi-scale obstacles located in an isotropic space.We develop a novel system of integral equations to decouple the nonlinear scattering interaction among the small obstacle components,the regular obstacle components and the inhomogeneous background medium.     

On uniqueness for an inverse problem in inhomogeneous elasticity

We consider the scattering of time-harmonic elastic waves inan isotropic medium which is characterized by constant Lamécoefficients and an inhomogeneous mass density. We prove thata knowledge of the far-field pattern for all incident planewaves and a single frequency provides sufficient informationto determine the mass density uniquely. To this end we constructa periodic Faddeev-type fundamental solution for the Navierequation and derive the existence of complex geometrical opticssolutions to the Navier equation.     

Integral equation methods in electromagnetic scattering from anisotropic media

We investigate scattering of time‐harmonic electromagnetic waves by an anisotropic inhomogeneous medium. The problem is equivalently transformed into a system of strongly singular integral equations. The uniqueness and existence of a solution is shown and we examine the regularity of the solution by means of integral equations. We also prove the analyticity of the scattered field with respect to the refractive matrix and give a characterization of the derivatives in terms of solutions to anisotropic scattering problems. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An inverse problem for Maxwell's equations in isotropic and non-stationary media

In this article, we consider Maxwell's equations in an isotropic, inhomogeneous and non-stationary medium. We discuss an inverse problem of determining the t-independent components of the coefficients ?, μ in the constitutive relations from a finite number of interior measurements. We prove a Lipschitz stability estimate for the inverse problem by applying the argument on the basis of Carleman estimate.     

Inhomogeneous boundary value problem for a second-order singular elliptic equation in a plane sector

We consider an inhomogeneous boundary value problem in a plane sector for a model second-order singular elliptic equation. We prove the well-posed solvability of the problem in weighted function spaces of special form.     

A Hopf bifurcation in a free boundary problem with inhomogeneous media

We shall consider an interfacial problem arising reaction–diffusion models with inhomogeneous media. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the occurrence of Hopf bifurcation in the interfacial problem and to examine the effects of an inhomogeneous media. Conditions for existence of stationary solutions and Hopf bifurcation for a certain class of inhomogeneity are obtained analytically and numerically.