• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.328-334
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• 2018

The paper reviews an improved continuous-wave (CW) terahertz (THz) imaging system developed for nondestructive inspection, such as CW-THz quasi-time-domain spectroscopy (QTDS) and interferometry. First, a comparison between CW and pulsed THz imaging systems is reported. The CW-THz imaging system is a simple, fast, compact, and relatively low-cost system. However, it only provides intensity data, without depth and frequency- or time-domain information. The pulsed THz imaging system yields a broader range of information, but it is expensive because of the femtosecond laser. Recently, to overcome the drawbacks of CW-THz imaging systems, many studies have been conducted, including a study on the QTDS system. In this system, an optical delay line is added to the optical arm leading to the detector. Another system studied is a CW-THz interferometric imaging system, which combines the CW-THz imaging system and far-infrared interferometer system. These systems commonly obtain depth information despite the CW-THz system. Reportedly, these systems can be successfully applied to fields where pulsed THz is used. Lastly, the applicability of these systems for nondestructive inspection was confirmed.

• Electronics and Telecommunications Trends
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.26-35
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• 2019

Modern imaging technologies utilizing electromagnetic waves are indispensable in our daily lives. Applications, such as television and smartphone screens, radar imaging for weather forecast, and medical imaging, can be attributed to technology developments in various electromagnetic regions. Terahertz (THz) waves, electromagnetic (EM) waves located between far infrared and microwave regions, had left unexplored EM waves. Recent advances in technology have led to various two-dimensional and three-dimensional THz imaging techniques. In this article, we explain THz imaging techniques as well as the experimental results from our laboratory. Additionally, we introduce commercial THz cameras developed worldwide. Finally, we present the applications of THz imaging techniques.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.26-36
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• 2018

Terahertz (THz) represents the portion of the electromagnetic radiation between the microwave and the infrared region and is within the frequency range of 0.1-10 THz. The ability of THz waves to pass through a wide variety of packaging materials, combined with their ability to characterize the molecular structure of many substances makes it an attractive tool for the application of food quality and safety management. This review provides current information on application of THz spectroscopy/imaging technology for food quality and safety management. The THz spectroscopy/imaging technology has been shown to be useful for detecting foreign bodies, vitamin/moisture, pesticides, antibiotics, melamine etc. However, major barriers to the adoption of THz spectroscopy/imaging for food quality and safety management include THz signal loss in heterogeneous food matrices, high costs of sources and detectors, and absence of a library for the wide group of food compounds. Further research is needed to overcome these barriers.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.352-358
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• 2010

This paper presented compact CW sub-THz imaging system using the terahertz transmitter(Tx) that generating 0.34 THz electromagnetic wave on based electronic device. Using 0.34 THz electromagnetic wave generated by Tx, we transmitted to sample by point by point scan method and measured transmitting terahertz wave magnitude and phase information respectively with terahertz receiver(Rx) based on sub harmonic mixer. This paper measured and compared images of several samples to obtain better imaging results by changing time delay and step distance of scanning stage which affect image resolution. Also, through the imaging measurement of various samples, we were able to assure possibility of application of terahertz wave.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.72-77
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• 2014

We have demonstrated a terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopy and imaging system using compact fiber-coupled THz modules. Using this THz spectroscopy system we have measured the absorption spectrum of water vapor in free space over 3 THz, as well as the refractive indices of various substrates such as Si, $Al_2O_3$, and GaAs using the transfer-function method. Through the THz imaging system we have observed a high-quality THz image of a medical knife and metal clip sample, with a resolution of $192{\times}89$ pixels using a step size of 250 ${\mu}m$.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.340-351
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• 2010

This paper presented compact CW sub-THz imaging system using the terahertz transmitter(Tx) that generates 0.34 THz electromagnetic wave based on electronic device. Using 0.34 THz electromagnetic wave generated by Tx, we measured transmitting terahertz wave magnitude and phase information respectively with terahertz receiver(Rx) based on sub harmonic mixer. This paper measured and compared images of several samples to obtain better imaging results by changing time delay and step distance of scanning stage which affect image resolution. Also, through the imaging measurement of various samples, we were able to assure possibility of application of terahertz wave.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.120-128
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• 2019

Radiopharmaceuticals include therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals and diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals. Therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals are administered to the body and ingested at specific organs to detect radiation emitted from the site and to construct an image to diagnose the disease. Diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals are used to treat diseases by killing cells with radiation emitted from radiopharmaceuticals, such as cancer cells, vascular endothelial cells, arthritis, and Alzheimer's disease. The application possibilities of terahertz imaging technology for the combination of radiopharmaceuticals and molecular imaging medicine are discussed and experimental methods are presented. Terahertz imaging is expected to be a powerful technique because of the effective piercing feasibility, which enables to perform safe and high resolutive imaging. To investigate the response of cell to the terahertz wave, both the pulsed and CW THz wave systems are employed. THz imaging of a rat's paraffin-embedded epithelial cell with tumor is studied in advance.

• Journal of electromagnetic engineering and science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.158-165
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• 2010

This study reviewed terahertz technologies of time domain spectroscopy, T-ray imaging, and high rate wireless data transfer. The main topics of the terahertz research area were investigation of materials and package modules for terahertz wave generation and detection, and setup of the terahertz system for time domain spectroscopy(TDS), T-ray imaging and sub-THz wireless communication. In addition to Poly-GaAs film as a photoconductive switching antenna material, a table-top scale for the THz-TDS/imaging system and terahertz continuous wave(CW) generation systems for sub-THz data transfer and narrow band T-ray imaging were designed. Dielectric properties of ferroelectric BSTO($Ba_xSr_{1-x}TiO_3$) films and chalcogenide glass systems were characterized with the THz-TDS system at the THz frequency range. Package modules for terahertz wave transmitter/receiver(Tx/Rx) photoconductive antenna were developed.

• Electronics and Telecommunications Trends
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.97-105
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• 2021

The terahertz wave (THz wave) is a band between infrared and microwaves and is defined as an electromagnetic wave having a frequency of 0.1 to 10 THz band. THz waves have the property of transmitting nonpolar materials, which the visible light cannot be transmitted, such as ceramics, plastics, and paper; and the photon energy is low, such as several meV. For this reason, non-destructive testing equipment based on THz imaging technology can be applied to the industrial field. Recently, THz imaging technology was applied in wide industrial fields, such as automobiles, batteries, food, medical, and security, and being actively studied. In this paper, we describe the research trends of terahertz imaging technology and experimental results. Furthermore, we summarize the recent commercialized terahertz camera. Finally, we present the research results in the field of the human security scanner system.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.317-327
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• 2018

Terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopy(TDS), imaging techniques, and related systems have become mature technologies, widely used in many universities and research laboratories. However, the development of creative technologies still requires improved THz application systems. A few key points are discussed, including the innovative advances of mode-locking energy-emitting semiconductor lasers and better photoconductive semiconductor quantum structures. To realize a compact, low cost, and high performance THz system, it is essential that THz spectroscopy and imaging technologies are better characterized by semiconductor and nano-devices, both static and time-resolved. We introduce the THz spectroscopy and imaging systems, the OSCAT(Optical Sampling by laser CAvity Tuning) system and the ASOPS(ASynchronous Optical Sampling) system, are constructed by our research team. We report on the THz images obtained from their use.