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.     

Terahertz photonic states in semiconductor-graphene cylinder structures

We propose a semiconductor-graphene cylinder that can serve as a terahertz (THz) photonic crystal. In such a structure, graphene plays a role in achieving a strong mismatch of the dielectric constant at the semiconductor-graphene interface due to its two-dimensional nature and relatively low value of the dielectric constant. We find that when the radius of the outer semiconductor layer is about ρ(1)~100 μm, the frequencies of the photonic modes are within the THz bandwidth and they can be efficiently tuned via varying ρ(1). Furthermore, the dispersion relation of the photonic modes shows that a semiconductor-graphene cylinder is of excellent light transport properties, which can be utilized for the THz waveguide. This study is pertinent to the application of graphene as THz photonic devices.     

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。     

The geometric phase in nonlinear frequency conversion

The geometric phase of light has been demonstrated in various platforms of the linear optical regime, raising interest both for fundamental science as well as applications, such as flat optical elements. Recently, the concept of geometric phases has been extended to nonlinear optics, following advances in engineering both bulk nonlinear photonic crystals and nonlinear metasurfaces. These new technologies offer a great promise of applications for nonlinear manipulation of light. In this review, we cover the recent theoretical and experimental advances in the field of geometric phases accompanying nonlinear frequency conversion. We first consider the case of bulk nonlinear photonic crystals, in which the interaction between propagating waves is quasi-phase-matched, with an engineerable geometric phase accumulated by the light. Nonlinear photonic crystals can offer efficient and robust frequency conversion in both the linearized and fully-nonlinear regimes of interaction, and allow for several applications including adiabatic mode conversion, electromagnetic nonreciprocity and novel topological effects for light. We then cover the rapidly-growing field of nonlinear Pancharatnam-Berry metasurfaces, which allow the simultaneous nonlinear generation and shaping of light by using ultrathin optical elements with subwavelength phase and amplitude resolution. We discuss the macroscopic selection rules that depend on the rotational symmetry of the constituent meta-atoms, the order of the harmonic generations, and the change in circular polarization. Continuous geometric phase gradients allow the steering of light beams and shaping of their spatial modes. More complex designs perform nonlinear imaging and multiplex nonlinear holograms, where the functionality is varied according to the generated harmonic order and polarization. Recent advancements in the fabrication of three dimensional nonlinear photonic crystals, as well as the pursuit of quantum light sources based on nonlinear metasurfaces, offer exciting new possibilities for novel nonlinear optical applications based on geometric phases.     

Tunable structures and modulators for THz light

We review recent results of both experimental and theoretical work aimed at developing tunable devices with optical properties in the THz range controllable by an external parameter. The presented devices include a semiconductor platelet, strontium titanate based elements and one-dimensional photonic crystals with defects. We show that it is possible to strongly modulate the complex permittivity in the THz range by light illumination, temperature and voltage, and the experimental results obtained by time-domain terahertz spectroscopy are found to be in a very good agreement with theoretical calculations. The control by illumination or applied bias enable a very fast modulation of the THz waves which is useful for prospect applications e.g. in the domain of communications. To cite this article: P. Kužel, F. Kadlec, C. R. Physique 9 (2008).     

非线性光学超构表面

在线性光学范畴内,人们已经通过亚波长尺度的超薄超构表面成功实现了对光的众多新颖特性的调控功能.其主要理念是通过对具有亚波长尺度且空间方向变化的超构功能基元进行特定的排列,从而实现对光的偏振、相位和振幅的有效控制.近来,超构表面上的非线性光学特性也引起了大家的广泛关注.在本综述中,我们对非线性光学超构表面的设计、超构功能单元的材料和对称性选择、非线性手性光学、非线性贝里几何相位和非线性波前整形等内容进行了总结;最后对非线性光学超构表面在调控光与物质的相互作用中面临的挑战和前景进行了展望.     

渐变空气孔THz波光子晶体光纤的色散特性

太赫兹(THz)波是指频率介于0.1THz～10THz范围内的电磁波,即介于毫米波与红外线之间,太赫兹波有很多优越的特性,在国防、航天、医学等领域具有潜在的应用价值。本文设计了一种渐变的空气孔THz波光子晶体光纤,其包层由周期分布的渐变空气孔构成,芯区是去掉一个空气孔形成的缺陷。采用带有良匹配层(APML)吸收边界的全矢量时域有限差分法(finite-difference time-domain,FDTD)对其色散特性进行了数值分析,计算结果表明这种渐变空气孔光子晶体光纤具有较强的色散控制能力。     

New directions in X-ray microscopy

The development of high brightness X-ray sources and high resolution X-ray optics has led to rapid advances in X-ray microscopy. Scanning microscopes and full-field instruments are in operation at synchrotron light sources worldwide, and provide spatial resolution routinely in the 25–50 nm range using zone plate focusing elements. X-ray microscopes can provide elemental maps and/or chemical sensitivity in samples that are too thick for electron microscopy. Lensless techniques, such as diffraction microscopy, holography and ptychography are also being developed. In high resolution imaging of radiation-sensitive material the effects of radiation damage needs to be carefully considered. This article is designed to provide an introduction to the current state and future prospects of X-ray microscopy for the non-expert.     

Different supercontinuum generation processes in photonic crystal fibers pumped with a 1064-nm picosecond pulse

Picosecond pulse pumped supercontinuum generation in photonic crystal fiber is investigated by performing a series of comparative experiments. The main purpose is to investigate the supercontinuum generation processes excited by a given pump source through the experimental study of some specific fibers. A 20-W all-fiber picosecond master oscillator-power amplifier （MOPA） laser is used to pump three different kinds of photonic crystal fibers for supercontinuum generation. Three diverse supercontinuum formation processes are observed to correspond to photonie crystal fibers with distinct dis- persion properties. The experimental results are consistent with the relevant theoretical results. Based on the above analyses, a watt-level broadband white light supercontinuum source spanning from 500 nm to beyond 1700 nm is demonstrated by using a picosecond fiber laser in combination with the matched photonic crystal fiber. The limitation of the group velocity matching curve of the photonic crystal fiber is also discussed in the paper.     

基于柱弥散光源体内辐照的前列腺扫描光声成像仿体实验

光声成像技术是一种非常有前景的前列腺早期检测与成像的新技术. 在现有前列腺光声成像技术中, 通常采用的腺体外光源辐照方式由于受外围组织的影响, 容易减弱深部前列腺组织的光能量吸收, 导致辐照范围减小, 引起光声成像深度不足, 难以实现无损前列腺癌的检测. 本文基于前列腺组织的结构特征, 依据一种以柱状弥散光纤在尿道对前列腺实施光辐照、并利用外置于直肠内的长焦区聚焦式超声换能器检测光声信号的前列腺光声扫描成像技术, 构建了光声成像实验系统, 开展了仿体实验. 测试结果表明, 系统能够实现样品中吸收体的定位和成像, 结合柱弥散光源体内辐照可使成像深度提高, 同时侧向成像范围也较大. 初步结果表明, 借助柱弥散光源进行体内光辐照的光声信号新激发方式结合长焦区超声探头在前列腺癌早期无创诊断上具有潜在的应用前景.     

微束斑X射线源及X射线光学元件

高质量的X射线源,尤其高亮度的微纳束斑X射线源是现代X射线光学高清晰成像最为关键的部件之一,在工业无损探伤、生命科学、材料科学等科学研究和实际应用中具有重要的意义。简单介绍了微束斑X射线源的产生方法及发展历史,并对微束X射线光学涉及到的聚焦X射线光学元件（如X射线掠入射反射镜、布拉格法反射镜、多层膜反射镜、多层膜光栅、X射线波带片、毛细管聚焦透镜和复合折射透镜等）的主要特点作了简要的系统介绍。最后展望了微细束X射线在微纳检测与分析等方面的应用前景。     

Directly laser-written integrated photonics devices including diffractive optical elements

Femtosecond laser-written integrated devices involving Fresnel Zone Plates (FZPs) and waveguide arrays are demonstrated as built-in optical couplers. These structures were fabricated in borosilicate glass using a direct laser writing technique. The optical properties of these integrated photonic structures were investigated using CW lasers and high-resolution CCDs. For a single FZP coupled to a single waveguide, the overall coupling efficiency was 9%. A multiplexed optical coupler composed of three FZP layers was demonstrated to couple three waveguides simultaneously in a waveguide array. Structures of this type can be used as platforms for multichannel waveguide coupling elements or as microfluidic sensors that require higher light collecting efficiency.     

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.     

基于有机吡啶盐晶体的太赫兹频率上转换探测

利用激光泵浦国产有机吡啶盐4-(4-二甲基氨基苯乙烯基)甲基吡啶对甲基苯磺酸盐(4-N,N-dimethylamino-4′-N′-methyl-stilbazolium tosylate,DAST)晶体,通过非线性频率上转换方法实现了室温运转的高灵敏、快响应、宽频段太赫兹探测.高效生成了近红外上转换光,采集到其脉冲包络和光谱,获得了ns量级的时间分辨率,并换算太赫兹波的频率,实现了对太赫兹信息的全面表征.与商用高莱探测器相比,上转换方法在19 THz频点的探测灵敏度高4个数量级;在可探测频率3.15—29.82 THz范围内,响应度普遍高2—3个数量级.结果表明:室温下的光泵频率上转换探测方法在时间分辨率和响应度方面远优于传统的热探测器,极大地提高了差频有源太赫兹系统的动态范围,使差频源在太赫兹波谱分析和成像等领域具有更大的应用潜力.     

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.     

准随机点阵二值化Gabor波带片聚焦特性的数值计算

 Fresnel波带片有多个焦点,作为单色器波长选择元件使用时会受到高级衍射的影响。而Gabor波带片只有一个焦点,有更好的聚焦特性,但制作难度较大,准随机点阵二值化Gabor波带片概念的提出则解决了这个问题。介绍了准随机点阵二值化Gabor波带片的设计,并利用优化的程序分别对Fresnel波带片和准随机点阵二值化Gabor波带片的聚焦特性进行了模拟计算,通过对计算结果进行分析比较,发现准随机点阵二值化Gabor波带片具有抑制高阶衍射的特性。     

太赫兹无线通信系统中的反射器研究

采用传输矩阵方法和菲涅尔公式,根据THz频段不同区域内材料折射率的特点,计算模拟了聚合体聚偏氟乙烯（polyvinylidene fluoride,PVDF）/聚碳酸酯（polycarbonate,PC）一维光子晶体对THz波的反射作用.结果表明这种反射器在亚太赫兹频段具有较好的反射性能和较大的反射带宽.此外,根据计算结果,本文还对THz反射器的理论研究和设计进行了讨论. 关键词： 太赫兹反射器 太赫兹无线通信 一维光子晶体     

激光遥感偏振成像系统光学元件调整及误差分析

改进了利用双旋转波片方法进行偏振成像的实验装置,提出了通过一次测量获得目标偏振度和强度编码图像的方法.运用光强法对激光遥感偏振成像装置的光学元件进行调整,通过斯托克斯和穆勒矩阵在偏振光学元件中的应用,给出了相应光学元件的调整原理、方法及过程.分析了激光器中心波长变动、偏振片的角度误差和波片的相位延迟及角度误差对整个系统的影响.结果表明,由偏振片角度和波片角度误差造成的出射光斯托克斯误差较小,不超过0.001,可以忽略;由波片相位延迟不精确造成的误差在0.02左右,所以应采用延迟精度较高的波片;激光器中心波长变化的影响最大,不能忽略,必须加滤光片使接收光的中心波长控制在808nm;镀有铝膜望远镜对接收到的散射光偏振度影响较小,适于激光遥感偏振成像系统的应用.     

1.54 THz激光成像实验与物质穿透特性

 用1.54 THz的波导型辉光放电激励的大功率连续波氰化氘（DCN）激光系统,进行了1.54THz激光成像实验研究和多种物质的穿透特性研究。利用简单的被测物体的2维扫描光学系统进行了连续波1.54 THz激光物体穿透成像,通过测量穿透光的不同强度清楚地识别了放入信封的塑料胸卡和金属硬币的位置和形状。实验中对不同物质进行了1.54 THz激光穿透特性测量,得到了多种不同物质的吸收系数。     

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。