A Simple Method for Visualizing Multiple Three Dimensional Objects from Near-Field Data with Point Source Excitation

A simple method is presented for visualizing multiple three dimensional objects from near-field measurements of the scattered field with point source excitation. In the method, the support of a spatially dependent function is used as a reliable indicator of the visualization of the obstacle where the spatially dependent function has larger values inside the obstacle than outside. This visualization scheme is very simple and fast since the determination of the spatially dependent function requires only solving a linear system and is independent of any prior knowledge about the geometry and physical properties of the obstacle. Another attractive feature of the method is that it only uses knowledge of the acoustic near-field data at a finite number of incidence and observation points distributed over a limited area. Numerical examples based on synthetic near-field data are given, showing the practicality and efficiency of the inversion approach.