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Li X, Li J, Li Y, Ozcan A, Jarrahi M. High-throughput terahertz imaging: progress and challenges. LIGHT, SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS 2023; 12:233. [PMID: 37714865 PMCID: PMC10504281 DOI: 10.1038/s41377-023-01278-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Many exciting terahertz imaging applications, such as non-destructive evaluation, biomedical diagnosis, and security screening, have been historically limited in practical usage due to the raster-scanning requirement of imaging systems, which impose very low imaging speeds. However, recent advancements in terahertz imaging systems have greatly increased the imaging throughput and brought the promising potential of terahertz radiation from research laboratories closer to real-world applications. Here, we review the development of terahertz imaging technologies from both hardware and computational imaging perspectives. We introduce and compare different types of hardware enabling frequency-domain and time-domain imaging using various thermal, photon, and field image sensor arrays. We discuss how different imaging hardware and computational imaging algorithms provide opportunities for capturing time-of-flight, spectroscopic, phase, and intensity image data at high throughputs. Furthermore, the new prospects and challenges for the development of future high-throughput terahertz imaging systems are briefly introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xurong Li
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jingxi Li
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Yuhang Li
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Aydogan Ozcan
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Mona Jarrahi
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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Guan S, Cheng J, Chang S. Recent Progress of Terahertz Spatial Light Modulators: Materials, Principles and Applications. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:1637. [PMID: 36295991 PMCID: PMC9610065 DOI: 10.3390/mi13101637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Terahertz (THz) technology offers unparalleled opportunities in a wide variety of applications, ranging from imaging and spectroscopy to communications and quality control, where lack of efficient modulation devices poses a major bottleneck. Spatial modulation allows for dynamically encoding various spatial information into the THz wavefront by electrical or optical control. It plays a key role in single-pixel imaging, beam scanning and wavefront shaping. Although mature techniques from the microwave and optical band are not readily applicable when scaled to the THz band, the rise of metasurfaces and the advance of new materials do inspire new possibilities. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of THz spatial light modulators from the perspective of functional materials and analyze their modulation principles, specifications, applications and possible challenges. We envision new advances of this technique in the near future to promote THz applications in different fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengnan Guan
- Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, No. 38 Tongyan Road, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Jierong Cheng
- Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, No. 38 Tongyan Road, Tianjin 300350, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-Scale Optical Information Science and Technology, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Shengjiang Chang
- Institute of Modern Optics, Nankai University, No. 38 Tongyan Road, Tianjin 300350, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Sensor and Sensing Network Technology, Tianjin 300350, China
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Harris ZB, Virk A, Khani ME, Arbab MH. Terahertz time-domain spectral imaging using telecentric beam steering and an f-θscanning lens: distortion compensation and determination of resolution limits. OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 28:26612-26622. [PMID: 32906931 PMCID: PMC7679195 DOI: 10.1364/oe.398706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
We report on the development and performance characterization of a telecentric terahertz spectroscopic scanner using an f-θ objective lens and a single gimballed scanning mirror for image formation. We derived a beam steering transform to compensate for the intercoupling of the gimballed mirror axes and the distortions caused by an imperfect scanning lens. We characterize the optical performance of the system in both the time and spatial domains, demonstrating a constant diffraction-limited imaging resolution over the entire field of view. Finally, given the large depth of focus of the objective lens, we demonstrate the broadband imaging capability at different depths using a Boehler star target. This imaging setup has the potential to be miniaturized into portable form factors for field-deployable scenarios.
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Harris ZB, Khani ME, Arbab MH. Terahertz Portable Handheld Spectral Reflection (PHASR) Scanner. IEEE ACCESS : PRACTICAL INNOVATIONS, OPEN SOLUTIONS 2020; 8:228024-228031. [PMID: 35433151 PMCID: PMC9009755 DOI: 10.1109/access.2020.3045460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
We report on the development and characterization of a handheld terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopic scanner for broadband imaging between approximately 0.25 and 1.25 THz. We designed and fabricated a 3D-printed fiber-coupled housing which provides an alignment-free strategy for the placement and operation of the THz optics. Image formation is achieved through telecentric beam steering over a planar surface through a custom f-θ scanning lens. This design achieves a consistent resolution over the full 12 × 19 mm field of view. Broadband spectral imaging is demonstrated using a 1951 United States Air Force Resolution Test Target. The consistency of the resolution over the wide field is validated through Boehler Star resolution measurements. Finally, a practical scenario of subsurface imaging on a damaged section of an aircraft wing is demonstrated. The THz PHASR is a field-deployable imaging system with the versatility to be applied to a much broader range of targets and imaging scenarios than previously possible, from industrial non-destructive testing to clinical diagnostic imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachery B Harris
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Mahmoud E Khani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - M Hassan Arbab
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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Kong MS, Kim JS, Han SP, Kim N, Moon K, Park KH, Jeon MY. Terahertz radiation using log-spiral-based low-temperature-grown InGaAs photoconductive antenna pumped by mode-locked Yb-doped fiber laser. OPTICS EXPRESS 2016; 24:7037-7045. [PMID: 27136997 DOI: 10.1364/oe.24.007037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate a terahertz (THz) radiation using log-spiral-based low-temperature-grown (LTG) InGaAs photoconductive antenna (PCA) modules and a passively mode-locked 1030 nm Yb-doped fiber laser. The passively mode-locked Yb-doped fiber laser is easily implemented with nonlinear polarization rotation in the normal dispersion using a 10-nm spectral filter. The laser generates over 250 mW of the average output power with positively chirped 1.58 ps pulses, which are dechirped to 127 fs pulses using a pulse compressor outside the laser cavity. In order to obtain THz radiation, a home-made emitter and receiver constructed from log-spiral-based LTG InGaAs PCA modules were used to generate and detect THz signals, respectively. We successfully achieved absorption lines over 1.5 THz for water vapor in free space. Therefore, we confirm that a mode-locked Yb-doped fiber laser has the potential to be used as an optical source to generate THZ waves.
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Mohr T, Breuer S, Giuliani G, Elsäßer W. Two-dimensional tomographic terahertz imaging by homodyne self-mixing. OPTICS EXPRESS 2015; 23:27221-27229. [PMID: 26480382 DOI: 10.1364/oe.23.027221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
We realize a compact two-dimensional tomographic terahertz imaging experiment involving only one photoconductive antenna (PCA) simultaneously serving as a transmitter and receiver of the terahertz radiation. A hollow-core Teflon cylinder filled with α-Lactose monohydrate powder is studied at two terahertz frequencies, far away and at a specific absorption line of the powder. This sample is placed between the antenna and a chopper wheel, which serves as back reflector of the terahertz radiation into the PCA. Amplitude and phase information of the continuous-wave (CW) terahertz radiation are extracted from the measured homodyne self-mixing (HSM) signal after interaction with the cylinder. The influence of refraction is studied by modeling the set-up utilizing ZEMAX and is discussed by means of the measured 1D projections. The tomographic reconstruction by using the Simultaneous Algebraic Reconstruction Technique (SART) allows to identify both object geometry and α-Lactose filling.
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