Continuous-wave terahertz digital holography by use of a pyroelectric array camera

Terahertz (THz) digital holography is realized based on a 2.52?THz far-IR gas laser and a commercial 124 × 124 pyroelectric array camera. Off-axis THz holograms are obtained by recording interference patterns between light passing through the sample and the reference wave. A numerical reconstruction process is performed to obtain the field distribution at the object surface. Different targets were imaged to test the system's imaging capability. Compared with THz focal plane images, the image quality of the reconstructed images are improved a lot. The results show that the system's imaging resolution can reach at least 0.4 mm. The system also has the potential for real-time imaging application. This study confirms that digital holography is a promising technique for real-time, high-resolution THz imaging, which has extensive application prospects.     

基于太赫兹量子级联激光器的实时成像研究进展

太赫兹(THz)实时成像是THz技术中颇具潜力的一个领域,具有成像速度快、成像分辨率高等特点,基于THz量子级联激光器(QCL)的实时成像系统是其中最重要的一种,系统体积小、重量轻、成像信噪比高等特点使其在实际应用中具有独特的优势。本文主要介绍了THz QCL器件及其实时成像系统的研究进展,采用超半球高阻硅透镜改善了THz QCL的输出激光,实现了准高斯光束输出,搭建了基于二维摆镜消干涉技术的THz实时成像系统,单帧成像光斑面积45mm×30 mm,实现了对刀片、药片的实时成像演示,成像分辨率优于0.5 mm;最后对成像系统激光源、成像光路和探测端的改进以及成像效果的改善方面进行了综述,并探讨了THz实时成像系统未来的发展趋势及其在材料分析和生物医学成像方面的应用前景。     

基于平均吸收的太赫兹波振幅成像研究

提出了一种基于一定频率内平均吸收的太赫兹(THz)波振幅成像新方法。太赫兹波频率在0.1～10 THz之间,波段位于红外和微波之间。太赫兹波成像技术的一个显著特点是信息量大,如何对每个样品点的大量信息进行处理提取有用信息重构出样品的图像是一项关键技术。选用中间挖空有“THz”字样的白纸为样品作太赫兹波成像研究,首先探讨了时域和频域上几种常用太赫兹波振幅成像方法所反映的样品信息及其特点,进一步使用提出的基于一定频率内平均吸收的太赫兹波振幅成像新方法对样品进行图像重构。实验结果表明这种新方法可以很好的反映样品的真实信息,反映了样品在一定频率范围内由于吸收而引起的效果的综合,与吸收系数和厚度相关,离散效应得到了很好的消除,相对几种常用的太赫兹波振幅成像方法能够得到更清晰的图像。此新方法尤其适用于结构简单的样品,能够成为几种常用振幅成像方法的有力补充。     

Terahertz quasi-near-field real-time imaging

A terahertz (THz) quasi-near-field real-time imaging system is presented. Not only the consumption of experimental time is dramatically reduced, but also the resolution of the imaging system is improved to the magnitude of sub-wavelength of THz waves. THz images of a razor blade edge are obtained and the spatial resolution of the imaging system is discussed in detail. For checking the imaging capability of this system, three metallic plates with different sub-wavelength air hole arrays are imaged and the microstructure of these samples can be clearly observed in their THz images. It is believed that the THz quasi-near-field real-time imaging system should have tremendous applications in the THz microscopic field.     

太赫兹数字全息术的研究进展

随着太赫兹成像技术的不断成熟,其空间分辨率和系统信噪比逐渐提高,成像速度逐渐加快,光学信息获取能力逐渐变强,人们对太赫兹成像在基础研究和工业应用的开发也逐渐深入。本文综述了近年来科研人员利用太赫兹数字全息成像系统进行的部分研究工作,包括对平板太赫兹元件的性能表征、对光控太赫兹元件的功能验证、对衍射太赫兹场中的纵向分量进行观测、以及对金属亚波长器件的太赫兹表面波进行分析。这些工作的完成对于太赫兹集成系统的研究和太赫兹成像技术的应用都具有积极的推动作用。     

Terahertz sensing and imaging based on nanostructured semiconductors and carbon materials

The advantageous properties of terahertz (THz) waves, such as permeability through objects that are opaque for visible light and the energy spectrum in the microelectron‐volt range that are important in materials research, allow their potential use in various applications of sensing and imaging. However, since the THz region is located between the electronic and photonic bands, even the basic components such as detectors and sources have not been fully developed, unlike in other frequency regions. THz technology also has the problem of low imaging resolution, which results from a considerably longer wavelength than that of the visible light. However, the utilization of nanostructured electronic devices has recently opened up new horizons for THz sensing and imaging. This paper provides an overview of the THz detector and imaging techniques and tracks their recent progress. Specifically, two cutting‐edge techniques, namely, frequency‐selective THz‐photon detection and integrated near‐field THz imaging, are discussed in detail. Finally, the studies of superconductors and semiconductors with high‐resolution THz imaging are described.     

THz关键技术及其在生物医学中的应用

THz电磁辐射的关键技术就是THz的产生和检测.本文分别介绍了两种产生THz辐射的方法及其对应的检测方法,较为全面地论述了THz成像技术,详细分析了THz成像技术的成像装置、成像原理及成像过程,并对其在生物医学方面的应用前景进行了重点分析.     

Terahertz polarization imaging with birefringent materials

We present a terahertz (THz) imaging method with a birefringent material which is sensitive to THz wave polarization. The subtle THz polarization modulations introduced by the target are extracted by the amplitudes of the two separated THz peaks passing through the birefringent material. The anisotropy of the industrial sprayed-on-foam-insulation (SOFI) is characterized by measuring its azimuthal angle dependent THz polarization response. This work demonstrated that this polarization sensitive THz imaging technique can be used for industrial inspection and biological related characterization.     

Terahertz phonon polariton imaging

In this article, we primarily review the time-resolved imaging of THz phonon polariton, which is generated by femtosecond laser in ferroelectric crystal. We pay more attention to the imaging in thin crystal, which can be used as an integration platform for terahertz-optics or terahertz-electrics. The imaging techniques, which can get quantitatively in-focus time-resolved images, are introduced in more detail. They have made enormous progress in recent years, and are powerful tools for the research of phonon polariton, optics, and THz wave. We also briefly introduce the generation principle and general propagation properties of THz phonon polariton.     

Real-time reflection imaging with terahertz camera and quantum-cascade laser

A real-time reflection imaging employing a terahertz （THz） camera as the imager and a 3.9 THz quantum- cascade laser （QCL） as the light source is demonstrated. The imaging light is collected and guided by only one off-axis parabolic mirror. The imaging distance is about 1 m. THz images of a coin and a knife are aacquired and analyzed. An actual soatial resolution with a value of about 0.33 mm is achieved.     

THz激光主动图像预处理方法研究

鉴于THz激光主动成像以其较低的光子能量和较高的穿透能力在危险品检测、医疗和食品检验等领域有着广泛的应用前景,将对比度拉伸变换、中值滤波和均值滤波常规图像预处理方法引入到THz激光主动图像处理中,对五元人民币纸币的水印THz面阵图像进行了预处理。处理结果表明,对原始图像进行对比度拉伸变换可以较大地提高图像对比度,在此基础上进行的中值滤波和均值滤波可进一步提高图像的辨识能力,中值滤波可以保护目标边缘细节并使图像平滑。在对比中发现,当窗口大小为9×9像元时滤波后的视觉效果最佳。     

NOVEL TERAHERTZ PHOTOCONDUCTIVE ANTENNAS

The photoconductive (PC) antenna is a key device for the recent terahertz (THz) photonics based on laser-pumped generation and detection of THz radiation. In this paper we report on two new types of PC antennas: the Schottky PC antenna and the multi-contacts PC antenna. The former one is able to detect THz radiation intensity without the time-delay scan and useful for applications where spectroscopic information is not important, such as the THz intensity imaging. The latter one is useful for the polarization sensitive THz spectroscopy, such as the THz ellipsometry. The characteristic features of these new types of PC antennas are studied by using a THz time-domain spectroscopy system.     

Time-domain transillumination of biological tissues with terahertz pulses

We present time-domain transmission imaging of an opaque structure in pork-fat tissue obtained with a terahertz (THz) field sampling technique. Compared with imaging with near-infrared pulses, the terahertz sampling technique shows significantly enhanced contrast, as a result of low scattering. For enhanced spatial resolution, we show mid-infrared THz imaging of onion cells. Water absorption of THz pulse in muscle tissues is discussed.     

High sensitivity and high selectivity terahertz biomedical imaging

We demonstrate two distinct emerging terahertz (THz) biomedical imaging techniques.One is based on the use of a new single frequency THz quantum cascade laser and the other is based on broadband THz time domain spectrocopy.The first method is employed to derive a metastasis lung tissue imaging at 3.7 THz with clear contrast between cancerous and healthy areas.The second approach is used to study an osseous tissue under several imaging modalities and achieve full THz spectroscopic imaging based on the freque...     

基于太赫兹时域光谱技术的伪色彩太赫兹成像的实验研究

提出了一种伪色彩太赫兹成像技术. 通过引入频域色彩区间积分, 建立了一套基于太赫兹时域光谱技术的伪色彩太赫兹成像系统, 实验分别研究了乳糖和对氨基苯甲酸两种不同白色化学粉末的伪色彩成像和灰度成像, 研究了不同颜色区间定义对伪色彩图像的影响, 讨论了利用不同频率信息成像系统所能达到的空间分辨率. 研究结果表明, 伪色彩成像技术可以将不同的物质信息同时成像在一张太赫兹图像中, 通过不同物质在太赫兹图像中呈现出的颜色差别来区分不同的物质及其分布. 克服了传统的太赫兹灰度成像技术中, 需要多张图像来区分不同的物质的问题, 提高了成像速度, 降低了筛选难度. 利用高频信息进行伪色彩成像, 可以将系统成像的空间分辨率提高到0.4 mm. 伪色彩成像方式可以更直观快捷地显示样品的基本属性, 对于实现太赫兹安检的初检和快速筛选具有重大的现实意义.     

Real-time imaging using a 2.8 THz quantum cascade laser and uncooled infrared microbolometer camera

Real-time imaging in the terahertz (THz) spectral range was achieved using a milliwatt-scale, 2.8 THz quantum cascade laser and an uncooled, 160 x 120 pixel microbolometer camera modified with Picarin optics. Noise equivalent temperature difference of the camera in the 1-5 THz frequency range was estimated to be at least 3 K, confirming the need for external THz illumination when imaging in this frequency regime. Despite the appearance of fringe patterns produced by multiple diffraction effects, single-frame and extended video imaging of obscured objects show high-contrast differentiation between metallic and plastic materials, supporting the viability of this imaging approach for use in future security screening applications.     

THz技术在农产品/食品品质检测中的应用

农产品/食品的质量和品质问题越来越受人们关注。探索实际可行的农产品/食品的无损检测与品质评估技术正在成为研究热点。太赫兹(THz)辐射是位于中红外和微波波段之间的一段电磁波,具有非常重要的科学研究和应用价值。长期以来由于缺乏可行的THz波产生方法与探测手段,该波段相关领域的研究滞缓。THz光谱传感和成像技术是THz波的两个主要应用技术。THz光谱检测技术作为一种新型检测技术能够获得传统检测无法获得的信息。近十几年来,THz波用于来研究固、液、气相等各种物质的光电特性、分子内部振动和组成信息,在生物分析、医疗诊断、安全检测、环境控制等领域,THz技术显示出广阔的应用前景。文章介绍了THz波的主要性质、THz波检测技术的特点,论述了THz技术在农产品、食品质量与品质检测中的最新进展及其应用的潜力。     

太赫兹波三维成像技术研究进展

太赫兹波具有良好的光谱特性、非电离性和对许多非极性材料具有穿透性,在无损探伤、安检、生物医学诊断、艺术品鉴别等领域表现出许多独特的优点。特别是,太赫兹波三维成像技术能够实现样品内部信息探测,逐渐成为当前的研究热点,并展现出广阔的发展前景。本文重点介绍了太赫兹波三维成像的几种常用技术,包括其基本原理和对应的研究进展,并分析了存在的问题和发展趋势。     

基于BWO连续太赫兹波成像系统的无损检测

介绍了一种基于返波管（BWO）的太赫兹波成像系统。BWO连续太赫兹波成像是一种新的无损检测方法。实验过程中把样品放在X-Z二维电控平移台上进行扫描成像,透过样品的太赫兹波强度信息由热释电探测器接收,然后经过电脑成像。给出了应用0.71THz的连续太赫兹波对打孔铝板、公交卡、校园卡的内部结构和对隐藏在信封内硬币等物体和信封内纸片上的铅字迹的成像实验研究事例,并且测知该系统能够分辨出直径最小为1.5mm的小孔。这项工作揭示了使用BWO连续太赫兹波成像系统在无损检测和安全检查领域是有效的。     

Real-time, continuous-wave terahertz imaging by use of a microbolometer focal-plane array

Real-time, continuous-wave terahertz imaging is demonstrated with a 10 mW, 2.52 THz (118.8 microm) far-infrared gas laser and a 160 x 120 element microbolometer camera. The microbolometer camera is designed for wavelengths of 7.5-14 microm but retains sensitivity at terahertz (THz) frequencies. The setup has no moving parts, and transmission-mode THz images can be obtained at the video rate of 60 frames/s. The peak signal-to-noise ratio is estimated to be 13 dB for a single frame of video, acquired in 16 ms. With this setup, THz imaging through a FedEx envelope is demonstrated, showing the feasibility of real-time mail screening.