• 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.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
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• v.55 no.8
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• pp.411-416
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• 2006

A new method on the evaluation of insulation oil was proposed. Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) was applied to investigate the properties of the insulating oil. For the diagnostics of oil degradation, three kinds of oils have been analyzed by THz-TDS. The degraded oil showed different optical and electrical constants compared with a new one. Generally, the power absorption coefficient, the refractive index, the dielectric constant and loss $tan{\delta}$ of the oil increase as the aging of insulating oil proceed. And the characteristics of two kind of insulation oil, 1-4 and 7-4, was compared in terahertz spectral region. Difference in refractive index and complex dielectric constant has been observed between the samples. The results of this study suggest that THz-TDS is a promising new means for evaluating degradation and identification of insulating oil.

• 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 ${\mu}m$.

• 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 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 the Optical Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.60-64
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• 2014

We report the generation of 3.3-mW single-cycle terahertz (THz) pulses at 1-kHz repetition rate via optical rectification in MgO-doped prism-cut stoichiometric LiNbO3. Efficient pulse-front tilting of 800-nm pulses was realized by an optimized single-lens focusing scheme for radially-symmetric propagation of THz beams. In this geometry, nearly-diffraction-limited THz Gaussian beams with electric field strength as high as 350 kV/cm were generated. The pump-to-THz energy conversion efficiency of $1.36{\times}10^{-3}$ and the extremely high signal-to-noise ratio of ~1:15000 achieved are among the best results for 1-kHz single-cycle terahertz pulse generation ever demonstrated in room temperature operation.

• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.589-593
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• 2014

Terahertz (THz) communication has important applications in high-speed and ultra broadband wireless access networks. The THz modulator is one of the key devices in a THz communications system. Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) can expand the capacity of THz communications systems, so research on multi wavelength THz modulators has significant value. By combining photonic-crystal and THz technology, a novel type of multi wavelength THz modulator based on a triple-lattice photonic crystal is proposed in this paper. Compared to a compound-lattice photonic crystal, a triple-lattice photonic crystal has a larger gap width of 0.196. Simulation results show that six beams of THz waves can be modulated simultaneously with high performance. This modulator's extinction ratio is as large as 34.25 dB, its insertion loss is as low as 0.147 dB, and its modulation rate is 2.35 GHz.

• Electronics and Telecommunications Trends
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.53-64
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• 2020

The terahertz (THz) region lies in between the millimeter and infrared spectral bands. A THz wave has the characteristics of non-invasiveness and non-ionization due to low photon energies, while having high penetrability in dielectrics. In addition, since the resonance frequencies of various molecules are included in the THz band, research on the application of spectral analysis and non-destructive testing has been widely studied. Towards this end, the research and development of THz detectors has become increasingly important in order to assess their applications in different areas such as astronomy, security, industrial non-destructive evaluations, biological applications, and wireless communications. In this report, we summarize the operating principles, characteristics, and utilization of various broadband technologies in THz detection devices. Further, we introduce the development status of our Schottky barrier diode technology as one of the broadband THz detectors that can be easily adopted as direct detectors in many fields of applications.

• 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 Optical Society of Korea
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.423-427
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• 2009

The results of the experimental and theoretical studies conducted on terahertz filtering using two parallel-plate waveguides (PPWGs) are presented herein. The first PPWG with 355 ${\mu}m$ plate separation generates 4 THz bandwidth TM modes ($TM_0,\;TM_2,\;and\;TM_4$), whereas the second PPWG with 100 ${\mu}m$ plate separation operated the THz filter for the generated TM modes with 1.5 THz cutoff frequency. The outgoing THz wave of the two PPWGs was truncated until 1.5 THz, and the system was operated using a high-pass THz filter. The absorption and dispersion of the combined TM and TE modes for the filtering system were calculated. The theoretical calculation and measurement results for the cutoff and oscillation frequency in the spectrum domain agreed well.