Breakthroughs in Concealed Object Detection
While there are several metal detection systems available (think TSA), many are still expensive and infra-structurally demanding. There is yet to be a lightweight technology which can discriminate between dangerous and benign conductive materials (specifically for private use).
With specific methods, the utilization of pulsed ultra-wideband microwaves has shown positive results in shape detection of conductive materials.
Please reference Dr. Kowalcyk's Dissertation
My Involvement
In order for Dr. Kowalczyk to further corroborate the breakthrough in his findings he needed to ensure that the RF field he was testing in was behaving according to his predictions.
-
I wrote a CocoaNEC model for the output of two interacting double ridged waveguide horn antennas positioned one meter part and pointed at each other radiating at 1000 MHz.
-
By comparing theoretical output with field measurements, Dr. Kowalczyk was able to further demonstrate that other effects beyond the complex permittivity of the obstructive materials between the antennas must be influencing the transmitted microwave field.
If the field signal amplitude were solely due to the frequency of the radiated field and the dimensions of the obstructive sample, it would be expected that the observed reduction in field signal loss would increase continuously with frequency due to lensing effects. Instead, signal gain was recorded!
