Conversion of Scattering Parameters to Time-Domain for Imaging Applications: Rules and Examples

This article discusses the conversion of scattering parameters from an antenna input port to time domain for imaging applications. Frequency-domain measurements offer some advantages to time-domain methods, and the complex data encoded in the scattering matrix convey target geometric and material information which can be later used to reproduce the scene image illuminated by the antenna. Three different examples using the inverse discrete Fourier transform are discussed. Trade-offs in the data acquisition, bandwidth, sampling and topics related to the antennas used as probes are covered.