title: Real-time, continuous-wave terahertz imaging by use of a microbolometer focal-plane array.
abstract: Real-time, continuous-wave terahertz imaging is demonstrated with a 10 mW, 2.52 THz (118.8 microm) far-infrared gas laser and a 160 x 120 element microbolometer camera. The microbolometer camera is designed for wavelengths of 7.5-14 microm but retains sensitivity at terahertz (THz) frequencies. The setup has no moving parts, and transmission-mode THz images can be obtained at the video rate of 60 frames/s. The peak signal-to-noise ratio is estimated to be 13 dB for a single frame of video, acquired in 16 ms. With this setup, THz imaging through a FedEx envelope is demonstrated, showing the feasibility of real-time mail screening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA. awmlee@mit.edu
authors.forename: Alan Wei Min
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Hu