Terahertz confocal microscopy with a quantum cascade laser source

We report the realization of a confocal THz microscope based on a ∼ 3 THz quantum cascade laser source. A resolution as low as 67 µm is achieved, with a large contrast enhancement allowed by the confocal geometry. The capability of imaging overlayed objects on close-by planes is also demonstrated.

[1]  Martin Koch,et al.  Confocal THz Laser Microscope , 2009 .

[2]  G. Kino,et al.  Confocal Scanning Optical Microscopy and Related Imaging Systems , 1996 .

[3]  N. N. Zinov'ev,et al.  Confocal terahertz imaging , 2009 .

[4]  Anthony E. Siegman,et al.  Choice of clip levels for beam width measurements using knife-edge techniques , 1991 .

[5]  A. Davies,et al.  Terahertz semiconductor-heterostructure lasers , 2002, Summaries of Papers Presented at the Lasers and Electro-Optics. CLEO '02. Technical Diges.