Workgroup Prof. Beigang

Research

THz imaging

THz imaging has turned out to be a very useful technique for applications in nondestructive testing and quality control of industrial objects. Using coherent detection methods the whole electric field can be obtained. Depending on the evaluation method of the recorded THz signals different properties of the objects under investigation can be determined. This includes thickness, shape, density or internal content.

The measured values are evaluated to get the physical properties: amplitude, time delay and spectrum.

The THz image of the transmitted amplitude is shown in fig. below. In a machined plastic plate all drilled holes (down to a diameter of 1 mm) were resolved as well as the hidden counter bores.

 

Terahertz radiation propagates in different media with different velocities. If a transparent media with a thickness D and a refractive index of nTHz is brought into the beam path, the THz wave is delayed by Δ T = D (nTHz-1)/c0 (c0: velocity of light in vacuum). The relative time delay can be detected very accurately. The figure shows the THz time delay of commercially available scotch tape attached to a plastic holder. Here a time accuracy of Δ T = 0,1 ps was realized which corresponds to a plastic layer thickness of approx. L = 50 μm.

 

Keywords:

terahertz (THz), time-domain-spectroscopy, nondestructive testing, final inspection, quality control, industrial application

 

References:

[1] "Terahertz-Wellen – ein neuer Spektralbereich für die industrielle Messtechnik (Terahertz Waves – A New Spectral Band for Industrial Measurement Techniques)“, F. Ellrich, T. Weinland, J. Klier, J. Jonuscheit, and R. Beigang, tm-Technisches Messen, Vol. 77, No. 9, pp. 452-461 (2010)
 summary copyright

[2] "Fasergekoppeltes Terahertz-Spektroskopiesystem (Fiber-coupled Terahertz Spectroscopy System)", F. Ellrich, T. Weinland, M. Theuer, J. Jonuscheit, and R. Beigang, tm-Technisches Messen, Vol. 75, No. 1, p. 14-22 (2008)
 summary copyright

[3] "Terahertz-Bildgebung in industriellen Anwendungen (Terahertz Imaging in Industrial Applications)", M. Theuer, G. Torosyan, F. Ellrich, J. Jonuscheit, and R. Beigang, tm-Technisches Messen, Vol. 75, No. 1, p. 64-70 (2008)
 summary copyright

[4] "T-Ray Imaging", D. Mittleman, R. Jacobsen, and M. Nuss, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, Vol. 2, No. 3, p. 679-692 (1996)

[5] "Far-infrared time-domain spectroscopy with terahertz beams of dielectrics and semiconductors", D. Grischkowsky, S. Keiding, M. Exter, and Ch. Fattinger, Journal of the Optical Society of America B, Vol. 7, p. 2006-2015 (1990)

 

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