Imaging and spectroscopy at terahertz frequencies using hot electron bolometer technology

Eyal Gerecht; Dazhen Gu; Fernando Rodriguez-Morales; Sigfrid Yngvesson

doi:10.1117/12.685413

12 October 2006 Imaging and spectroscopy at terahertz frequencies using hot electron bolometer technology

Eyal Gerecht, Dazhen Gu, Fernando Rodriguez-Morales, Sigfrid Yngvesson

Proceedings Volume 6373, Terahertz Physics, Devices, and Systems; 63730L (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.685413
Event: Optics East 2006, 2006, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Abstract

Imaging and spectroscopy at terahertz frequencies (defined roughly as 300 GHz - 3 THz) have great potential for both healthcare and homeland security applications. Terahertz frequencies correspond to energy level transitions of important molecules in biology and astrophysics. Terahertz radiation (T-rays) can penetrate clothing and, to some extent, can also penetrate biological materials, and because of their shorter wavelengths they offer higher spatial resolution than microwaves or millimeter waves. We describe the development of a novel two-dimensional scanning, passive, terahertz imaging system based on a hot electron bolometer (HEB) detector element. HEB mixers are near quantum noise limited heterodyne detectors operating over the entire terahertz spectrum. HEB devices absorb terahertz radiation up to the visible range due to the very short momentum scattering times. The terahertz imaging system consists of a front-end heterodyne detector integrated with a state-of-the-art monolithic microwave integrated-circuit low-noise amplifier (MMIC LNA) on the same mixer block. The terahertz local oscillator (LO) signal is provided by a commercial harmonic multiplier source.

Citation Download Citation

Eyal Gerecht, Dazhen Gu, Fernando Rodriguez-Morales, and Sigfrid Yngvesson "Imaging and spectroscopy at terahertz frequencies using hot electron bolometer technology", Proc. SPIE 6373, Terahertz Physics, Devices, and Systems, 63730L (12 October 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.685413

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