THz QCL self-mixing interferometry for biomedical applications

Aleksandar D. Rakić; Thomas Taimre; Karl Bertling; Yah Leng Lim; Stephen J. Wilson; Milan Nikolić; Alexander Valavanis; Dragan Indjin; Edmund H. Linfield; A. Giles Davies; Blake Ferguson; Graeme Walker; Helmut Schaider; H. Peter Soyer

doi:10.1117/12.2061433

5 September 2014 THz QCL self-mixing interferometry for biomedical applications

Aleksandar D. Rakić, Thomas Taimre, Karl Bertling, Yah Leng Lim, Stephen J. Wilson, Milan Nikolić, Alexander Valavanis, Dragan Indjin, Edmund H. Linfield, A. Giles Davies, Blake Ferguson, Graeme Walker, Helmut Schaider, H. Peter Soyer

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9199, Terahertz Emitters, Receivers, and Applications V; 91990M (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2061433
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2014, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce the self-mixing phenomenon in terahertz quantum cascade lasers (THz QCLs) and present recent advancements in the development of coherent THz imaging and sensing systems that exploit the self-mixing effect. We describe an imaging method which utilises the interferometric nature of optical feedback in a THz QCL to employ it as a homodyning transceiver. This results in a highly sensitive and compact scheme. Due to the inherently low penetration depth of THz radiation in hydrated biological tissue, imaging of superficial skin is an ideal application for this technique. We present results for imaging of excised skin tissue, showing high-contrast between different tissue types and pathologies.

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Aleksandar D. Rakić, Thomas Taimre, Karl Bertling, Yah Leng Lim, Stephen J. Wilson, Milan Nikolić, Alexander Valavanis, Dragan Indjin, Edmund H. Linfield, A. Giles Davies, Blake Ferguson, Graeme Walker, Helmut Schaider, and H. Peter Soyer "THz QCL self-mixing interferometry for biomedical applications", Proc. SPIE 9199, Terahertz Emitters, Receivers, and Applications V, 91990M (5 September 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2061433

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