A novel microwave imaging system (SAMI) which utilises an array of phase sensitive antennas to synthesize an optical aperture has been designed and deployed on MAST. The system requires no optical components for focussing and yet is able to image up to half of the plasma surface simultaneously. All image formation is done in post processing and SAMI can be refocussed after the fact. SAMI is capable of imaging both passive thermal emission and scattered radiation from an active probing source simultaneously without compromising performance. We have used the diagnostic to observe highly anisotropic thermal emission characteristic of high ß plasma devices which are overdense to regular ECE emission. This is an exciting emerging diagnostic field and we present our first observations here.
