Microwave imaging of mixed metallic–dielectric configurations via a finite element-based variable exponent approach

The quantitative reconstruction of structures that include both metallic and dielectric targets at the same time is addressed in this article. In particular, a nonlinear tomographic inversion approach developed in variable exponent Lebesgue spaces with a finite element (FE) formulation is adopted for the first time in such a configuration. Results obtained within a simulated environment are presented to validate the proposed technique and analyze the effects of different numbers and sizes of the metallic targets present in the investigated scenario. Moreover, the impact of possible a priori knowledge of metallic structures is assessed.