Comparison of Thermal Detector Arrays for Off-Axis THz Holography and Real-Time THz Imaging

In terahertz (THz) materials science, imaging by scanning prevails when low power THz sources are used. However, the application of array detectors operating with high power THz sources is increasingly reported. We compare the imaging properties of four different array detectors that are able to record THz radiation directly. Two micro-bolometer arrays are designed for infrared imaging in the 8–14 μm wavelength range, but are based on different absorber materials (i) vanadium oxide; (ii) amorphous silicon; (iii) a micro-bolometer array optimized for recording THz radiation based on silicon nitride; and (iv) a pyroelectric array detector for THz beam profile measurements. THz wavelengths of 96.5 μm, 118.8 μm, and 393.6 μm from a powerful far infrared laser were used to assess the technical performance in terms of signal to noise ratio, detector response and detectivity. The usefulness of the detectors for beam profiling and digital holography is assessed. Finally, the potential and limitation for real-time digital holography are discussed.

[1]  Naoki Oda,et al.  Uncooled bolometer-type Terahertz focal plane array and camera for real-time imaging , 2010 .

[2]  Paul W. Kruse,et al.  Uncooled Thermal Imaging Arrays, Systems, and Applications , 2001 .

[3]  P. Picart,et al.  General theoretical formulation of image formation in digital Fresnel holography. , 2008, Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, image science, and vision.

[4]  Göran Stemme,et al.  Performance model for uncooled infrared bolometer arrays and performance predictions of bolometers operating at atmospheric pressure , 2008 .

[5]  E. Hack,et al.  Terahertz holography for imaging amplitude and phase objects. , 2014, Optics express.

[6]  Fiodor F. Sizov,et al.  Uncooled Detectors Challenges for THz/sub-THz Arrays Imaging , 2011 .

[7]  Mostafa Shalaby,et al.  Demonstration of a low-frequency three-dimensional terahertz bullet with extreme brightness , 2015, Nature Communications.

[8]  Frédéric Garet,et al.  Imaging of broadband terahertz beams using an array of antenna-coupled microbolometers operating at room temperature. , 2013, Optics express.

[9]  S. Gidon,et al.  Antenna-coupled microbolometer based uncooled 2D array and camera for 2D real-time terahertz imaging , 2013, Optics & Photonics - Optical Engineering + Applications.

[10]  Linda Marchese,et al.  Review of terahertz technology development at INO , 2015 .

[11]  Panos G. Datskos,et al.  Performance of uncooled microcantilever thermal detectors , 2004, SPIE MOEMS-MEMS.

[12]  Qing Hu,et al.  Real-time, continuous-wave terahertz imaging by use of a microbolometer focal-plane array. , 2005, Optics letters.

[13]  Christoph P. Hauri,et al.  High-performing nonlinear visualization of terahertz radiation on a silicon charge-coupled device , 2015, Nature Communications.

[14]  Victor N. Ovsyuk,et al.  Microbolometer detector arrays for the infrared and terahertz ranges , 2009 .

[15]  Pramod Rastogi,et al.  Phase Estimation in Optical Interferometry , 2014 .

[16]  Gamani Karunasiri,et al.  Real-time imaging using a 2.8 THz quantum cascade laser and uncooled infrared microbolometer camera. , 2008, Optics letters.

[17]  Naoki Oda,et al.  Microbolometer Terahertz Focal Plane Array and Camera with Improved Sensitivity in the Sub-Terahertz Region , 2015 .

[18]  Gamani Karunasiri,et al.  Detection of 3.4 THz radiation from a quantum cascade laser using a microbolometer infrared camera , 2007, SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing.

[19]  B.A. Knyazev,et al.  Terahertz imaging with a 160x120 pixel microbolometer 90-fps camera , 2007, 2007 Joint 32nd International Conference on Infrared and Millimeter Waves and the 15th International Conference on Terahertz Electronics.

[20]  Boris A. Knyazev,et al.  Classical Holography in the Terahertz Range: Recording and Reconstruction Techniques , 2015, IEEE Transactions on Terahertz Science and Technology.