Optimizing EMI transmitter and receiver configurations to enhance detection and identification of small and deep metallic targets

Current electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensors of the kind used to discriminate buried unexploded orndance (UXO) can detect targets down to a depth limited by the geometric size of the transmitter (Tx) coils, the amplitudes of the transmitting currents, and the noise floor of the receivers (Rx). The last two factors are not independent: for example, one cannot detect a deeply buried target simply by increasing the amplitude of the Tx current, since this also increases the noise and thus does not improve the SNR. The problem could in principle be overcome by increasing the size of the Tx coils and thus their moment. Current multi-transmitter instruments such as the TEMTADS sensor array can be electronically tweaked to provide a big Tx moment: they can be modified to transmit signals from two, three or more Tx coils simultaneously. We investigate the possibility of enhancing the deep-target detection capability of TEMTADS by exploring different combinations of Tx coils. We model different multi-Tx combinations within TEMTADS using a full-3D EMI solver based on the method of auxiliary sources (MAS).We determine the feasibility of honing these combinations for enhanced detection and discrimination of deep targets. We investigate how to improve the spatial resolution and focusing properties of the primary magnetic field by electronically adjusting the currents of the transmitters. We apply our findings to data taken at different UXO live sites.