Optimized Minimum Spanning Tree Phase Unwrapping Algorithm for Phase Image of Interferometric SAR

At present, SAR interferometry (InSAR) is technique for the generation of digital elevation models from space. The phase image unwrapping is the most important step in processing the interferometric SAR data. Goldstein´s branch-cut algorithm is now the most classical one of the known phase unwrapping algorithms. It connects residues with branch-cut lines to neutralize their charges so that the integral path can´t stride over the branches in the process of phase unwrapping, thus avoiding pervasion of error. However, due to improper connections, this always brings about too many, too long and even closed branch-cut lines that can not be unwrapped, especially when many residues exist