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This article presents a new application of microwave microscopy as a diagnostic of the painted lightning strike protection (LSP) mesh used in composite aircraft skins. A new flexible probe is presented. This probe can sweep over the surface of the composite skin and detect breaks in the LSP lying underneath. It is demonstrated that shielding of the probe feeding line leads to better balancing, and consequently highly improved immunity to the presence of nearby objects. With this new approach, it is possible to localize faults as small as one cut strand under the paint. Also, this technique features the possibility to measure the paint thickness with a resolution on the order of micrometers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the problem of optimizing probes used in modulated scattering systems is examined. Instead of the usual empirical or blind numerical optimization, a simple analytical formulation is developed, uniquely based on the impedance states of the modulating devices. This formulation allows obtaining some bounds on system performances and assessing the sensitivity to frequency and component characteristics variations. In particular, an optical modulation component, providing an advantage in terms of low invasiveness, is compared with the more common p-i-n diode-based modulators. The validity of the proposed approach, for high-resolution electrically small probes is demonstrated numerically and experimentally. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]