• 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.

• 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.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.31-43
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• 2020

The feasibility of the application of terahertz electromagnetic waves in the diagnosis of prostate cancer was examined. Four samples of incomplete cancerous prostatic paraffin-embedded tissues were examined using terahertz spectral imaging (TPI) system and the results obtained by comparing the absorption coefficient and refractive index of prostate tumor, normal prostate tissue and smooth muscle from one of the paraffin tissue masses examined were reported. Three hundred and sixty cases of absorption coefficients from one of the paraffin tissues examined were used as raw data to classify these three tissues using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Least Squares Support Vector Machine (LS-SVM). An excellent classification with an accuracy of 92.22% in the prediction set was achieved. Using the distribution information of THz reflection signal intensity from sample surface and absorption coefficient of the sample, an attempt was made to use the TPI system to identify the boundaries of the different tissues involved (prostate tumors, normal and smooth muscles). The location of three identified regions in the terahertz images (frequency domain slice absorption coefficient imaging, 1.2 THz) were compared with those obtained from the histopathologic examination. The tissue tumor region had a distinctively visible color and could well be distinguished from other tissue regions in terahertz images. Results indicate that a THz spectroscopy imaging system can be efficiently used in conjunction with the proposed advanced computer-based mathematical analysis method to identify tumor regions in the paraffin tissue mass of prostate cancer.

• 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.

• 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 ${\mu}m$.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.619-626
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• 2022

In this study, we develop a three-dimensional (3D) terahertz time-of-flight (THz-TOF) imaging technique with a large depth range, based on asynchronous optical sampling (ASOPS) methods. THz-TOF imaging with the ASOPS technique enables rapid scanning with a time-delay span of 10 ns. This means that a depth range of 1.5 m is possible in principle, whereas in practice it is limited by the focus depth determined by the optical geometry, such as the focal length of the scan lens. We characterize the spatial resolution of objects at different vertical positions with a focal length of 5 cm. The lateral resolution varies from 0.8-1.8 mm within the vertical range of 50 mm. We obtain THz-TOF images for samples with multiple reflection layers; the horizontal and vertical locations of the objects are successfully determined from the 2D cross-sectional images, or from reconstructed 3D images. For instance, we can identify metallic objects embedded in insulating enclosures having a vertical depth range greater than 30 mm. For feasible practical use, we employ the proposed technique to locate a metallic object within a thick chocolate bar, which is not accessible via conventional transmission geometry.

• Electronics and Telecommunications Trends
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.59-69
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• 2018

Terahertz (THz) imaging and spectroscopy have been developed as non-destructive testing methods for various industrial applications. However, they have not been widely adopted in real applications owing to a high system price and the large size of conventional THz time-domain spectroscopy systems, which are based on ultrashort optical pulse lasers. Recently, various types of compact THz emitters and detectors have become available. As a result, THz non-destructive test (NDT) systems have become viable solutions. Herein, we briefly review the recent advances in THz NDT techniques adopting continuous-wave THz systems, including our recent results of a THz-based waterproof test system and an electrical connection inspection system for car manufacturing.

• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.155-160
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• 2011

Lymph node metastasis is an important prognostic factor in cervical cancer patients. We report THz imaging for detecting micro-metastatic foci in the lymph nodes of early-stage uterine cervical cancer patients. Five paraffin-embedded metastatic lymph nodes from two cervical cancer patients were imaged using a THz time-domain spectroscopy system in the reflection mode. The size and shape of the tumor regions were compared with those from histopathologic examinations. The metastatic portions of lymph nodes as small as 3 mm were well delineated by THz imaging. The reflected peak amplitudes were lower in metastatic portions than in the normal portions of lymph nodes, and the difference in their peak-to-peak amplitudes was ~5%.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2017

In this study, a terahertz time domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) imaging technique was used to measure doping concentration and physical properties (such as refractive index and permittivity) of the doped silicon (Si) wafers. The transmission and reflection modes with an incidence angle of $30^{\circ}$ were employed to determine the physical properties of the doped Si wafers. The doping concentrations of the prepared Si wafers were varied from $10^{14}$ to $10^{18}$ in both N-type and P-type cases. Finally, the correlation between the doping concentration and the power of the THz wave was determined by measuring the powers of the transmitted and reflected THz waves of the doped Si wafers. Additionally, the doped thickness, the refractive index, and permittivity of each doped Si wafer were calculated using the THz time domain waveform. The results indicate that the THz-TDS imaging technique is potentially a promising technique to measure the doping concentration as well as other optical properties (such as the refractive index and permittivity) of the doped Si wafer.