Super-resolution in imaging high contrast targets from the perspective of scattering coefficients (Q1696023)

The paper under review deals with an inverse scattering problem for high-contrast targets. More, precisely, the authors consider the following scattering problem in \(\mathbb{R}^2:\) \[ \left(\Delta +k^2\big(1+q(x)\big)\right)u=0, \] where \(u\) is the total field, \(q(x)>0\) is the contrast of the medium and and \(k\) is the wave number, ensuring the value \(2\pi/k\) of the operating wavelength. The function \(q\) is assumed to be of the form \(q(x)=\varepsilon^* \chi_D(x)\) with a constant \(\varepsilon^*>0\) and the characteristic function \(\chi_D\) of a bounded domain \(D\) with \(C^{1,\alpha}\)-smooth boundary. The above system is complemented by the physical outgoing Sommerfeld radiation condition: \[ \left|\dfrac{\partial}{\partial|x|}u^s-iku^s\right|=O(|x|^{-3/2})\quad \text{as }\;|x|\to\infty \] where \(u^s:=u-u^i\) is the scattered field and \(u^i\) is the incident field. The solution \(u\) of that problem represents the total field due to the scattering from the inclusion \(D\) corresponding to the incident field \(u^i.\) The authors use the concept of scattering coefficients in order to estimate the resolution limit for imaging high contrast targets from far-field measurements as function of the material contrast, and to prove that the higher the permittivity is inside the target, the better the resolution is for imaging its shape from far-field measurements. The technique employed is based on fine decay estimates of the scattering coefficients in arbitrary shaped domains, and then in the particular case of a circular domain. These estimates show different behaviors of the scattering coefficients of different orders as the material contrast increases. The results obtained are illustrated with a variety of numerical examples showing the phenomenon of super-resolution as the material contrast increases.