Optically sectioned fluorescence lifetime imaging using a Nipkow disk microscope and a tunable ultrafast continuum excitation source

We demonstrate an optically sectioned fluorescence lifetime imaging microscope with a wide-field detector, using a convenient, continuously tunable (435-1150 nm) ultrafast source for fluorescence imaging applications that is derived from a visible supercontinuum generated in a microstructured fiber.     

An X-ray imaging detector based on pixel structured scintillator

An X-ray imaging detector consisting of a silicon charge coupled device (CCD) and pixel structured scintillator was developed to improve spatial resolution. The pixelated structure reduces spreading of scintillation light through the scintillator by providing air gap between scintillator pixels, and increased spatial resolution by reducing the cross-talk between CCD pixels. The modulation transfer functions (MTF) of the non-pixelated and pixilated scintillator detector were compared. The improvement in spatial resolution was evaluated by both computational simulation and experimental measurement of MTF; both results showed coincidence.     

Terahertz two-pixel imaging based on complementary compressive sensing

A compact terahertz(THz) imaging system based on complementary compressive sensing has been proposed using two single-pixel detectors. By using a mechanical spatial light modulator, sampling in the transmission and reflection orientations was achieved simultaneously, which allows imaging with negative mask values. The improvement of THz image quality and anti-noise performance has been verified experimentally compared with the traditional reconstructed image, and is in good agreement with the numerical simulation. The demonstrated imaging system, with the advantages of high imaging quality and strong anti-noise property, opens up possibilities for new applications in the THz region.     

Terahertz polarization imaging

We present a new method to measure the polarization state of a terahertz pulse by using a modified electro-optic sampling setup. To illustrate the power of this method, we show two examples in which the knowledge of the polarization of the terahertz pulse is essential for interpreting the results: spectroscopy measurements on polystyrene foam and terahertz images of a plastic coin. Both measurements show a sample-induced rotation of the terahertz electric field vector, which is surprisingly large and is a strong function of frequency. A promising aspect of our setup is the possibility of simultaneously measuring both transversal electric field components.     

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.     

Terahertz wave tomographic imaging with a Fresnel lens

We demonstrate three-dimensional tomographic imaging using a Fresnel lens with broadband terahertzpulses.Objects at various locations along the beam propagation path are uniquely imaged on the sameimaging plane using a Fresnel lens with different frequencies of the imaging beam.This procedure allowsthe reconstruction of an object's tomographic contrast image by assembling the frequency-dependentimages.     

Terahertz imaging through self-mixing in a quantum cascade laser

We demonstrate terahertz (THz) frequency imaging using a single quantum cascade laser (QCL) device for both generation and sensing of THz radiation. Detection is achieved by utilizing the effect of self-mixing in the THz QCL, and, specifically, by monitoring perturbations to the voltage across the QCL, induced by light reflected from an external object back into the laser cavity. Self-mixing imaging offers high sensitivity, a potentially fast response, and a simple, compact optical design, and we show that it can be used to obtain high-resolution reflection images of exemplar structures.     

Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy for explosive imaging

Terahertz (THz) imaging which is a new technology for material classification and nondestructive detection has been extensively investigated in the past decade. The time-domain waveform acquired at each point of the object by using the THz time-domain spectroscopy contains much information about the object. Processing this waveform will present the characters of the object. Several methods are adopted to generate the image of the explosive samples and results are compared and discussed. Experiment results indicate that this new imaging technology can be used for explosive detection.     

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 reflection imaging using Kirchhoff migration

We describe a new imaging method that uses single-cycle pulses of terahertz (THz) radiation. This technique emulates data-collection and image-processing procedures developed for geophysical prospecting and is made possible by the availability of fiber-coupled THz receiver antennas. We use a simple migration procedure to solve the inverse problem; this permits us to reconstruct the location and shape of targets. These results demonstrate the feasibility of the THz system as a test-bed for the exploration of new seismic processing methods involving complex model systems.     

基于Rydberg原子天线的太赫兹测量

Rydberg原子在微波和太赫兹频段具有极大的电偶极矩,利用量子干涉效应可实现对该频段电磁波场强的高灵敏探测,理论上灵敏度可达到远高于现有探测技术的水平.基于Rydberg原子量子效应的电磁场探测及精密测量技术在太赫兹的场强和功率计量、太赫兹通信和太赫兹成像等方面有着巨大的应用前景.本文回顾了基于Rydberg原子量子干涉效应实现电磁波电场自校准和可溯源测量的基本理论和实验技术,详细介绍了基于Rydberg原子的高灵敏太赫兹场强测量、太赫兹近场高速成像和太赫兹数字通信的基本原理和技术方案.最后简单介绍了本研究团队正在开展的基于Rydberg原子的太赫兹探测工作.     

Terahertz planar lenses based on plasmonic metasurfaces

Plasmonic planar lenses on silicon substrate are designed to realize terahertz (THz) wave focusing. Super-unit-cells containing eight different resonant units are presented to construct eight concentric rings on the silicon substrate. By controlling of the position distribution of the resonant units, it is shown that focusing at 4.3 THz can be achieved. Moreover, due to that the eight units can steer THz wave and keep phase gradient in frequency range of 4.2 to 4.5 THz, the metalenses can realize broadband THz focusing. The results imply the potential applications in THz wave control devices of light collection and multi-channel optical communication.     

X‐ray analog pixel array detector for single synchrotron bunch time‐resolved imaging

Dynamic X‐ray studies can reach temporal resolutions limited by only the X‐ray pulse duration if the detector is fast enough to segregate synchrotron pulses. An analog integrating pixel array detector with in‐pixel storage and temporal resolution of around 150 ns, sufficient to isolate pulses, is presented. Analog integration minimizes count‐rate limitations and in‐pixel storage captures successive pulses. Fundamental tests of noise and linearity as well as high‐speed laser measurements are shown. The detector resolved individual bunch trains at the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source at levels of up to 3.7 × 10³ X‐rays per pixel per train. When applied to turn‐by‐turn X‐ray beam characterization, single‐shot intensity measurements were made with a repeatability of 0.4% and horizontal oscillations of the positron cloud were detected.     

Terahertz real-time imaging with balanced electro-optic detection

We propose a method for two-dimensional terahertz (THz) real-time imaging which systemically integrates the THz balanced electro-optic sampling technique and the dynamic subtraction technique. The proposed method can effectively improve the signal to noise ratio and the spectrum measurement accuracy of the imaging system. Experiment results demonstrate the advantage of the method.     

Spinning disk for compressive imaging

We report the first, to the best of our knowledge, experimental implementation of a spinning-disk configuration for high-speed compressive image acquisition. A single rotating mask (i.e., the spinning disk) with random binary patterns was utilized to spatially modulate a collimated terahertz (THz) or IR beam. After propagating through the sample, the THz or IR beam was measured using a single detector, and THz and IR images were subsequently reconstructed using compressive sensing. We demonstrate that a 32-by-32 pixel image could be obtained from 160 to 240 measurements in both the IR and THz ranges. This spinning-disk configuration allows the use of an electric motor to rotate the spinning disk, thus enabling the experiment to be performed automatically and continuously. This, together with its compact design and computational efficiency, makes it promising for real-time imaging applications.     

Smart pixel optical sensor based on positive optical feedback

A smart pixel optical sensor based on positive optical feedback is described and demonstrated. The scheme uses the reflectance of an external scene as part of the positive feedback loop and uses the nonlinear characteristics of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser to obtain bistability and hysteresis. As a result, the continuous reflectance variation of the scene is mapped to a digital output with increased noise immunity for each pixel of the array.     

Terahertz wave modulator based on optically controllable metamaterial

We demonstrated experimentally a terahertz wave modulator based on optically controlled metamaterial. The signal modulation mechanism of the presented terahertz wave modulator was based on the resonance characteristic of metamaterial controlled without or with light excitation. A modulated semiconductor laser with 808 nm wavelength was employed to light the substrate. The interaction between the metamaterial and terahertz wave was strengthened and yielded an appreciable modulation of the terahertz output beam. The modulation speed is 0.1 Kb/s and the modulation depth of the proposed terahertz modulator is about 57% at a frequency of 0.32 THz.     

Terahertz power splitter based on ferrite photonic crystal

In this paper, we design a novel Y-junction power splitter which is optimized according to coupled mode theory. Two rods are added in the junction. One rod is a silicon rod and another one is a ferrite rod, the refractive index of which can be varied by adjusting the external magnetic field. So, it not only can split the power, but also controls the output energy of the two branches automatically. The transmission spectrum is calculated by finite difference time domain (FDTD) method, which shows that the output energy of the two branches is closely related to the frequency of the incident terahertz (THz) wave and the refractive index of the ferrite rod. The device is a good candidate for integrated optical circuit, the tuning rate of which is about a few microseconds.     

基于6S模型的遥感影像逐像元大气纠正算法

大气纠正的目的是从遥感影像中去除大气影响,并反演获取地物真实反射率。介绍了一种逐像元对遥感影像进行大气纠正的算法,该算法基于6S(Second Simulation of the Satellite Signal in the Solar Spectrum)大气辐射传输模型计算建立的查找表(look-up table),并利用地面暗目标(dark object)进行陆地气溶胶光学厚度的自动反演,由于气溶胶的分布具有空间连续性,在获取地面暗目标气溶胶光学厚度值后,通过空间插值的方法计算影像中非暗目标像元的气溶胶光学厚度值,经过查找表二次插值计算,逐像元进行大气纠正并获取像元地表反射率值。以Landsat5遥感影像为例,介绍了算法流程,展示了大气纠正的结果。结果显示,利用查找表逐像元大气纠正的算法,能够在一定程度上去除云雾对影像的影响,更加精确的对遥感影像进行大气纠正并获取地物的真实反射率。     

Terahertz imaging using an optical frequency comb source

Optical frequency combs, which are generated by the cascade of a phase modulator and a Mach–Zehnder intensity modulator, are used as a polychromatic signal source in the terahertz imaging system to improve imaging quality. The interference effect caused by the monochromatic wave has been greatly suppressed.The required optical power in the presented system is as low as～30% of that in the system using the Er-doped fiber amplifier as a source, which can reduce cost and protect photodiodes from damage. This work provides an effective, low power consumption, low cost, and easy way to realize terahertz imaging with high quality and can be used in future security inspections.