Active terahertz imaging with Ne indicator lamp detector arrays

N. S. Kopeika, A. Abramovich, O. Yadid-Pecht, Y. Yitzhaky

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

The advantages of terahertz (THz) imaging are well known. They penetrate well most non-conducting media and there are no known biological hazards, This makes such imaging systems important for homeland security, as they can be used to image concealed objects and often into rooms or buildings from the outside. There are also biomedical applications that are arising. Unfortunately, THz imaging is quite expensive, especially for real time systems, largely because of the price of the detector. Bolometers and pyroelectric detectors can each easily cost at least hundreds of dollars if not more, thus making focal plane arrays of them quite expensive. We have found that common miniature commercial neon indicator lamps costing typically about 30 cents each exhibit high sensitivity to THz radiation [1-3], with microsecond order rise times, thus making them excellent candidates for such focal plane arrays. NEP is on the order of 10-10 W/Hz1/2. Significant improvement of detection performance is expected when heterodyne detection is used Efforts are being made to develop focal plane array imagers using such devices at 300 GHz. Indeed, preliminary images using 4×4 arrays have already been obtained. An 8×8 VLSI board has been developed and is presently being tested. Since no similar imaging systems have been developed previously, there are many new problems to be solved with such a novel and unconventional imaging system. These devices act as square law detectors, with detected signal proportional to THz power. This allows them to act as mixers in heterodyne detection, thus allowing NEP to be reduced further by almost two orders of magnitude. Plans are to expand the arrays to larger sizes, and to employ super resolution techniques to improve image quality beyond that ordinarily obtainable at THz frequencies.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdaptive Coded Aperture Imaging, Non-Imaging, and Unconventional Imaging Sensor Systems
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
EventAdaptive Coded Aperture Imaging, Non-Imaging, and Unconventional Imaging Sensor Systems - San Diego, CA, United States
Duration: 2 Aug 20093 Aug 2009

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume7468
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Conference

ConferenceAdaptive Coded Aperture Imaging, Non-Imaging, and Unconventional Imaging Sensor Systems
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego, CA
Period2/08/093/08/09

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