
Preface
It is not easy to give a precise definition of an inverse problem, but, as
they often say about other things, we know one when we see one. Loosely
speaking, direct problems involve determining the effects of known causes.
What will be the temperatures later at points within the room, given the
current temperatures? Indirect, or inverse, problems go the other way, as we
attempt to infer causes from observed effects. What was the temperature
distribution in the room initially, given that we have measured the tem-
peratures at several later times? Most remote-sensing problems are inverse
problems.
Magnetic resonance, acoustic, and optical remote-sensing ...