Diffraction factor of a one-dimensional rectangular linear array for quantitative ultrasound imaging

<p dir="ltr">The intensity of ultrasound images of a scattering medium depends on the imaging position and probe parameters. The diffraction factor describes this dependence, an essential quantity for describing an ultrasound imaging system. Accounting for the diffraction factor is crucial for quantitative ultrasound imaging. If uncorrected, the diffraction effect alters both the amplitude and spectral shape of echoes, leading to bias in estimates of scatterer properties and attenuation. However, there is no explicit expression so far for a linear array, the most common transducer used in clinics. In this paper, we present a closed-form expression for the diffraction factor for a linear rectangular array and validate it with Field II simulations. We also discuss its potential applications in quantitative ultrasound imaging. </p>