Improvement of Image Spatial Resolution in Optoacoustic Tomography with the Use of a Confocal Array

A. S. Bychkova, b, *, E. B. Cherepetskayab, A. A. Karabutovb, c, and V. A. Makarova, c
Translated by A. Nikol’skii

aMoscow State University, Moscow, 119991 Russia

bMoscow Mining Institute, National University of Science and Technology MISiS, Moscow, 119049 Russia

cMoscow State University International Laser Center, Moscow, 119991 Russia

Correspondence to: *е-mail: abychkov@optoacoustic.ru

Received 9 February, 2017

Abstract—The spatial resolution and size of the sensitivity area of tomographic systems are estimated by calculating sensitivity maps and spatial resolution maps in the image plane of complex arrays. The relation between the size of areas of high sensitivity and high spatial resolution for real-time oriented tomographic systems with confocal arrays is studied. It is shown that arrays with toroidal geometry significantly improve the diagnostic capabilities of optoacoustic and laser-ultrasound structural analysis of biological objects, rocks, and composite materials.

Keywords: optoacoustic tomography, multielement arrays, confocal arrays, toroidal arrays, spatial resolution of a multielement array, point spread function, sensitivity maps

DOI: 10.1134/S1063771018010037