Focusing Time Harmonic Scalar Fields in Non-Homogenous Lossy Media: Inverse Filter vs. Constrained Power Focusing Optimization

Two strategies to focus time harmonic scalar fields in known inhomogeneous lossy media are compared. The first one is the Inverse Filter (IF) method, which faces the focusing task as the synthesis of a nominal field. The second one is the Constrained Power Focusing Optimization (CPFO) method, which tackles the problem in terms of constrained mask constrained power optimization. Numerical examples representative of focusing in noninvasive microwave hyperthermia are provided to show that CPFO is able to outperform IF, thanks to the additional degrees of freedom arising from the adopted power synthesis formulation