THz-vision system with extended functionality

Janez Trontelj; Aleksander Sešek; Andrej Švigelj

doi:10.1117/12.2015217

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31 May 2013 THz-vision system with extended functionality

Janez Trontelj, Aleksander Sešek, Andrej Švigelj

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Proceedings Volume 8716, Terahertz Physics, Devices, and Systems VII: Advanced Applications in Industry and Defense; 87160B (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2015217
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2013, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Abstract

A near real-time THz-vision system is presented in the paper. The most important part of it is the THz sensors focal plane array operating at the room temperature, featuring low NEP (5pW/√Hz) and high sensitivity (1e6 V/W). Its architecture allows direct digital processing of the output signal. The system performance is upgraded with large parallel processing of up to 64 channels. The second important building block is the FM THz source used for illumination. A wide FM range, of up to ±10% of the central frequency allows using the system for various applications. The THz source is a solid-state source using a GHz range frequency synthesizer followed by frequency multipliers and microwave amplifiers. Such a compact THz source can cover the lower region of the THz spectrum, i.e. below 1THz using different frequency bands. The band selection depends on the application. Three different areas of applications are discussed in the paper: 3D imaging of hidden objects as one of the most attractive features of the presented system, an accurate range finder with the resolution within a fraction of the wave length and a narrow band CW spectrometer operating in the FM range of the source.

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Janez Trontelj, Aleksander Sešek, and Andrej Švigelj "THz-vision system with extended functionality", Proc. SPIE 8716, Terahertz Physics, Devices, and Systems VII: Advanced Applications in Industry and Defense, 87160B (31 May 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2015217

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