Synchronized time-reversal focusing with application to remote imaging from a distant virtual source array

Time-reversing the transfer function between a time-reversal mirror (TRM) and a distant probe source location generates an acoustic spatio-temporal focus at the location. It is shown that a TR focus behaves as a "virtual" source (in the far-field limit) in the outbound direction with respect to the TRM. By extension, a collection of TRM-to-probe source transfer functions constitutes a virtual source array (VSA) that can serve as a remote platform for active imaging methods such as beam-steering and other coherent wavefront techniques. As a demonstration, a set of a-priori sampled TRM-to-VSA transfer functions are steered to coherently focus at a selected location beyond the VSA for which the transfer function is not known a-priori. In this case the VSA acts as a lens that refocuses the TRM field to the target location. Under proper conditions, the resolution is comparable to that of standard TR. While the specific application of active focusing is presented as a validation of the concept, the relationship between coherent focusing and the transfer function implies that the virtual array concept may find use in a range of imaging methods, both active and passive. Possible applications are discussed, and simulation and experimental results are presented. (C) 2009 Acoustical Society of America. [DOI: 10.1121/1.3117374]