Multiple scattering of ultrasound in weakly inhomogeneous media: application to human soft tissues

Abstract

Waves scattered by a weakly inhomogeneous random medium contain a predominant single scattering contribution as well as a multiple scattering contribution which is usually neglected, especially for imaging purposes. A method based on random matrix theory is proposed to separate the single and multiple scattering contributions. The experimental set up uses an array of sources/receivers placed in front of the medium. The impulse responses between every couple of transducers are measured and form a matrix. Single-scattering contributions are shown to exhibit a deterministic coherence along the antidiagonals of the array response matrix, whatever the distribution of inhomogeneities. This property is taken advantage of to discriminate single from multiple-scattered waves. This allows one to evaluate the absorption losses and the scattering losses separately, by comparing the multiple scattering intensity with a radiative transfer model. Moreover, the relative contribution of multiple scattering in the backscattered wave can be estimated, which serves as a validity test for the Born approximation. Experimental results are presented with ultrasonic waves in the MHz range, on a synthetic sample (agar-gelatine gel) as well as on breast tissues. Interestingly, the multiple scattering contribution is found to be far from negligible in the breast around 4.3 MHz.

35 pages, 11 figures, final version, contains the appendix of the original article

References in corpus (5)

• Multiple scattering of classical waves: from microscopy to mesoscopy and diffusion
• Coherent Backscattering of Light by Cold Atoms
• Detection and imaging in a random medium: A matrix method to overcome multiple scattering and aberration
• Observation of coherent backscattering of light by cold atoms
• Singular value distribution of the propagation matrix in random scattering media

Cited by in corpus (9)

• Three-Dimensional Ultrasound Matrix Imaging
• Reflection matrix approach for quantitative imaging of scattering media
• Recurrent scattering and memory effect at the Anderson localization transition
• A random matrix approach to detect defects in a strongly scattering polycrystal: how the memory effect can help overcome multiple scattering
• Deep learning-based photoacoustic imaging of vascular network through thick porous media
• Matrix Approach of Seismic Imaging: Application to the Erebus Volcano, Antarctica
• Weight of single and recurrent scattering in the reflection matrix of complex media
• Imaging through a scattering medium by speckle intensity correlations
• Reflection Measurement of the Scattering Mean Free Path at the Onset of Multiple Scattering