Signal-to-noise analysis for detection sensitivity of small absorbing heterogeneity in turbid media with single-source and dual-interfering-source

Previous studies have suggested that the phased-array detection can achieve high sensitivity in detecting and localizing inhomogeneities embedded in t urbid media by illuminating with dual interfering sources. In this paper, w e analyze the sensitivity of single-source and dual-interfering-source (pha sed array) systems with signal-to-noise ratio criteria. Analytical solution s are presented to investigate the sensitivity of detection using different degrees of absorption perturbation by varying the size and contrast of the object under similar configurations for single- and dual-source systems. T he results suggest that dual-source configuration can provide higher detect ion sensitivity. The relation between the amplitude and phase signals for b oth systems is also analyzed using a vector model. The results can be helpf ul for optimizing the experimental design by combining the advantages of bo th single- and dual-source systems in object detection and localization. (C ) 2001 Optical Society of America.