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Improvement of TFM-Image Quality due to Correction for “Stray” Delays between Antenna Array Elements

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Abstract

The quality of the reflector image reconstructed by the digital antenna focusing (DFA) method deteriorates due to nonoptimal focusing if there is a spread of “stray” delays between antenna array elements of more than one fourth of the carrier frequency period. The paper proposes a method for taking into account the influence of the “stray” delays between antenna array elements during DFA image reconstruction. The application of this method allows increasing the frontal resolving ability of the DFA-image of reflectors approximately twice when using a low-quality antenna array with a range of “stray” delays of one period. DFA-images reconstructed taking into account the coherent factor are presented.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author expresses his gratitude to the chief designer of ECHO+ Research and Production Association A.E. Bazulin for valuable comments and recommendations made when discussing the present article.

Funding

This work was supported by ongoing institutional funding. No additional grants to carry out or direct this particular research were obtained.

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Correspondence to E. G. Bazulin.

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Bazulin, E.G. Improvement of TFM-Image Quality due to Correction for “Stray” Delays between Antenna Array Elements. Russ J Nondestruct Test 59, 945–952 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1061830923700523

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1061830923700523

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