Tests of Backscatter Coefficient Measurement Using Broadband Pulses

An adaptation to a data reduction method is outlined for determining backscatter coefficients, η when broad bandwidth pulses are employed. The accuracy of these η values is assessed with well-characterized phantoms, which have independently calculated backscatter coefficients based on their physical properties. One phantom produces Rayleigh-like scattering, where the backscatter coefficient varies smoothly with frequency over the analysis bandwidth. A second phantom exhibits local maxima and minima in the scattering function versus frequency due to presence of millimeter sized graphite gel spheres in a gel background. The method was found to produce accurate results using time gate durations as small as 2 μs, although better accuracy is obtained for longer gate durations, particularly when the sample exhibits resonance peaks in backscatter versus frequency. Use of a Hamming window in place of a rectangular window extends the accuracy near the upper and lower limits of the frequency range.