Mathematics of Photoacoustic and Thermoacoustic Tomography

This is the manuscript of the chapter for a planned Handbook of Mathematical Methods in Imaging that surveys the mathematical models, problems, and algorithms of the Thermoacoustic (TAT) and Photoacoustic (PAT) Tomography. TAT and PAT represent probably the most developed of the several novel “hybrid” methods of medical imaging. These new modalities combine different physical types of waves (electromagnetic and acoustic in case of TAT and PAT) in such a way that the resolution and contrast of the resulting method are much higher than those achievable using only acoustic or electromagnetic measurements.