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。     

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.     

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.     

Experimental research on resolution improvement in CW THz digital holography

High-resolution continuous-wave terahertz (CW THz) real-time imaging operating at 2.52 THz is demonstrated based on THz digital holographic technique. To eliminate the influence of zero-order diffraction while reducing the recording distance, effective zero-order diffraction suppression methods are studied and compared. The spatial resolution of the imaging system is tested by imaging a self-made Siemens star. When the recording distance is 2.1 cm, the measured resolution can reach 0.245 mm. The experimental results confirm the high imaging performance of the THz digital holography system.     

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。     

Spectroscopic measurements and terahertz imaging of the cornea using a rapid scanning terahertz time domain spectrometer

Spectroscopic measurements and terahertz imaging of the cornea are carried out by using a rapid scanning terahertz time domain spectroscopy(THz-TDS) system.A voice coil motor stage based optical delay line(VCM-ODL) is developed to provide a rather simple and robust structure with both the high scanning speed and the large delay length.The developed system is used for THz spectroscopic measurements and imaging of the corneal tissue with different amounts of water content,and the measurement results show the consistence with the reported results,in which the measurement time using VCM-ODL is a factor of 360 shorter than the traditional motorized optical delay line(MDL).With reducing the water content a monotonic decrease of the complex permittivity of the cornea is observed.The two-term Debye relaxation model is employed to explain our experimental results,revealing that the fast relaxation time of a dehydrated cornea is much larger than that of a hydrated cornea and its dielectric behavior can be affected by the presence of the biological macromolecules.These results demonstrate that our THz spectrometer may be a promising candidate for tissue hydration sensing and practical application of THz technology.     

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.     

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.     

Terahertz Real-Time Off-Axis Digital Holography with Zoom Function

We present a terahertz(THz) real-time digital holographic system with zoom function worked at 0.17 THz. The magnification factor ranges from 1 to 2. In the imaging experiment, the resolution is 2 mm with the magnification factor of 1.2. A metal sheet with F-shaped hollow is used as a sample, and its THz holograms are reconstructed by our developed algorithm based on the angular spectrum theorem, and the qualities of the THz images under different conditions are compared.     

Study of terahertz interferometric imaging using optical techniques

<正>Principles of terahertz(THz) interferometric synthetic aperture imaging with heterodyne and optical techniques are presented.A THz interferometric experiment based on optical up-conversion is set up.The received THz signal is modulated into an optical carrier and transmitted in a fiber.To simulate phase differences between two THz receivers,the output of receiver is divided and a phase shifter is placed before electro-optical modulation(EOM).Interferometric spectra of these modulated optical signals are examined at different phase shifts.Otherwise,carrier suppression and phase error calibration are discussed for THz interferometric synthetic aperture imaging.     

Wide-Aperture Aspheric Optics for Formation of Subwavelength Caustics of a Terahertz Electromagnetic-Radiation Beam

A wide-aperture aspheric lens for focusing a terahertz electromagnetic-radiation beam in a circle of the subwavelength size is proposed. The calculation of the lens and the estimation of size of created caustic were carried out using computational methods of geometric optics and electrodynamics. The lens is made of high-density polyethylene with the help of a turning machine. For experimental estimation of the spatial resolution provided by the lens, a THz imaging system based on raster scanning of the object’s surface was created. The imaging system was used in combination with wide-aperture THz optics to record images of the streak plates with different spatial frequencies. Analysis of the experimental data showed that the aspheric lens allows the resolution of two objects spaced at a distance of 0.95λ, providing contrast of 15%. The proposed THz optics is superior to classical THz spherical lenses and off-axis parabolic mirrors, greatly expanding the capabilities of THz-spectroscopy methods and imaging.     

0.2 THz步进频率逆合成孔径雷达成像

研究设计了一种0.2 THz的步进频率雷达成像系统,带宽12 GHz,并利用逆合成孔径技术对物体进行二维高分辨成像。针对系统设计参数进行Matlab仿真,获得简单转台目标的二维逆合成孔径雷达图像。仿真结果表明,太赫兹雷达成像系统可实现目标的二维高分辨成像,横向和纵向距离可以达到cm级分辨率。     

连续太赫兹激光透射扫描成像实验研究

太赫兹成像可用于安检、反恐和工业生产等领域,已成为研究热点。由于连续太赫兹激光源体积较小、操作简单,因此,近几年对连续太赫兹激光成像的研究越来越多。基于C02激光泵浦甲醇气体生成的118．83μm激光,采用室温单元探测器、二维位移平台、聚乙烯透镜、光阑和计算机等器件组成的扫描透射成像系统对物体进行了成像实验,比较分析了扫描步长分别为1mm和0．5mm的成像结果。实验结果表明,由于增加光阑,实际成像功率下降,但此套成像系统在激光输出功率约为20mW时,仍成像清晰,且步长为0．5mm的成像效果更好。     

Effects of Pumping Sizes on THz Radiation Based on Ultrashort Light Pulse Optical Rectification for High Spatial Resolution T-Ray Imaging

We present our experimental studies on the effects of the pumping sizes on THz radiation based on ultrashort light pulse optical rectification for high spatial resolution T-Ray imaging. Our experiments show that high spatial resolution T-ray imaging requires both thin THz emitter and sample, and rigorous tolerance of the gap between the sample and the emitter, as well as small pumping size which usually much smaller compared with THz wavelength. Such a small pumping size results in dramatic decrease of the THz wave power, which originates from strong diffraction of THz wave, the depolarization of the focused tightly pumping beam, the spatial filtering of the emitter exit-surface, and the strong phase-mismatching between the pumping and the high spatial Fourier components of the THz signal, rather than two-photon absorption.     

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.     

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。     

All-semiconductor laser driven terahertz time-domain spectrometer

We present a terahertz time-domain spectrometer pumped by an all-semiconductor femtosecond laser system which emits 600 fs long optical pulses at 830 nm. Standard LT-GaAs antennas are used to generate and coherently detect THz radiation with a bandwidth of 1.4 THz. The measured time traces are in good agreement with simulations based on the Drude–Lorentz model. Spectroscopic measurements on polymers with different additive contents as well as THz imaging were carried out to confirm the successful operation of the spectrometer. Our approach holds great potential for the development of cost-effective, rugged and portable THz spectrometers for a variety of applications.     

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。     

高速太赫兹探测器

太赫兹(terahertz,THz)技术在高速空间通信、外差探测、生物医学、无损检测和国家安全等领域具有广阔的应用前景.能响应1 GHz调制速率以上THz光的高速THz探测器是快速成像、THz高速空间通信、超快光谱学应用技术和THz外差探测等领域的核心器件.传统的THz热探测器难以实现高速工作,而基于半导体的THz探测器在理论上可实现高速工作.光导天线具有超快的响应速度,可实现常温和宽谱探测;肖特基势垒二极管混频器、超导-绝缘体-超导混频器和超导热电子混频器具有转换效率高、噪声低等优点,可用于高速THz空间外差和直接探测;基于高迁移率二维电子气的天线耦合场效应晶体管灵敏度高、阻抗低,可实现常温高速THz探测;THz量子阱探测器是一种基于子带间跃迁原理的单极器件,非常适合高频和高速探测应用,亚波长金属微腔耦合机理可显著提高器件的工作温度及光子吸收效率.本文对上述几种高速THz探测器进行了综述并分析了各种探测器的优缺点.