Inexpensive THz Focal Plane Array Imaging Using Miniature Neon Indicator Lamps as Detectors

Development of focal plane arrays (FPAs) for mm wavelength and THz radiation is presented in this paper. The FPA is based upon inexpensive neon indicator lamp Glow Discharge Detectors (GDDs) that serve as pixels in the FPA. It was shown in previous investigations that inexpensive neon indicator lamp GDDs are quite sensitive to mm wavelength and THz radiation. The diameters of GDD lamps are typically 3-6 mm and thus the FPA can be diffraction limited. Development of an FPA using such devices as detectors is advantageous since the costs of such a lamp is around 30-50 cents per lamp, and it is a room temperature detector sufficiently fast for video frame rates. Recently, a new 8 × 8 GDD FPA VLSI control board was designed, constructed, and experimentally tested. First, THz images using this GDD FPA are given in this paper. By moving around the 8 × 8 pixel board appropriately in the image plane, 32 × 32 pixel images are also obtained and shown here, with much improved image quality because of much reduced pixelization distortion.

[1]  A. Abramovich,et al.  THz Polarization Effects on Detection Responsivity of Glow Discharge Detectors (GDDs) , 2009, IEEE Sensors Journal.

[2]  N S Kopeika,et al.  Inexpensive detector for terahertz imaging. , 2007, Applied optics.

[3]  Daniel Rozban,et al.  Terahertz detection mechanism of inexpensive sensitive glow discharge detectors , 2008 .

[4]  F. Sizov,et al.  THz radiation sensors , 2010 .

[5]  Nabil H. Farhat.  Optimization of millimeter-wave glow-discharge detectors , 1974 .

[6]  Robert M. Weikle,et al.  GAAS DEVICES AND CIRCUITS FOR TERAHERTZ APPLICATIONS , 1999 .

[7]  A. G. van Nie,et al.  A Simple and Rugged Wide-Band Gas Discharge Detector for Millimeter Waves , 1966 .

[8]  Daniel Rozban,et al.  Design of inexpensive diffraction limited focal plane arrays for millimeter wavelength and terahertz radiation using glow discharge detector pixels , 2008 .

[9]  Hongkyu Park,et al.  Terahertz Wave Imaging System Based on Glow Discharge Detector , 2011, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics.

[10]  A. Tsvetkov,et al.  Time-resolved imaging of millimeter waves using visible continuum from the positive column of a Cs–Xe dc discharge , 2010 .

[11]  Burton J. Udelson,et al.  Effect of Microwave Signals Incident upon Different Regions of a dc Hydrogen Glow Discharge , 1957 .

[12]  A. Abramovich,et al.  Heterodyne Detection by Miniature Neon Indicator Lamp Glow Discharge Detectors , 2011, IEEE Sensors Journal.

[13]  N.S. Kopeika.  On the mechanism of glow discharge detection of microwave and millimeter-wave radiation , 1975, Proceedings of the IEEE.

[14]  N. S. Kopeika.  Glow Discharge Detection of Long Wavelength Electromagnetic Radiation: Cascade Ionization Process Internal Signal Gain and Temporal and Spectral Response Properties , 1978, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.

[15]  K Krapels,et al.  Performance comparison of rectangular (four-point) and diagonal (two-point) dither in undersampled infrared focal plane array imagers. , 2001, Applied optics.

[16]  R. Padman,et al.  Phase centers of horn antennas using Gaussian beam mode analysis , 1990 .