Pulsed terahertz tomography

Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) is a coherent measurement technology. Using THz-TDS, the phase and amplitude of the THz pulse at each frequency can be determined. Like radar, THz-TDS also provides time information that allows us to develop various three-dimensional THz tomographic imaging modalities. The three-dimensional THz tomographic imagings we investigated are: terahertz diffraction tomography (THz DT), terahertz computed tomography (THz CT), THz binary lens tomography and THz digital holography. THz DT uses the THz wave as a probe beam to interact with a target, and then reconstructs the three-dimensional image of the target using the THz waves scattered by the target. THz CT is based on geometrical optics and inspired by x-ray CT. THz binary lens tomography uses the frequency dependent focal length property of binary lenses to obtain tomographic images of an object. THz three-dimensional holography combines radar and conventional holography technology. By separating the multiple scattered THz waves of different scattering orders, we used a digital holography method to reconstruct the sparsely distributed scattering centres. Three-dimensional THz imaging has potential in such applications as non-destructive inspection. The interaction between a coherent THz pulse and an object provides rich information about the object under study; therefore, three-dimensional THz imaging is a very useful tool to inspect or characterize dielectric and semiconductor objects. For example, three-dimensional THz imaging can be used to detect and identify the defects inside a space shuttle insulation tile.