Imaging and Spectroscopy at Terahertz Frequencies Using Hot Electron Bolometer Technology

Published

October 2, 2006

Author(s)

Eyal Gerecht, Dazhen Gu, Fernando Rodriquez-Morales, Sigfrid Yngvesson

Abstract

Imaging and spectroscopy at terahertz frequencies (defined roughly as 300 GHz-3 THz) have great potential for both healthcare and homeland security applications. Terahertz frequencies correspond to energy level transitions of important molecules ibbiology and astrophysics. Terahertz radiation (T-rays) can penetrate clothing and, to some extent, can also penetrate biological materials, and because of their shorter wavelengths they offer higher spatial resolution than microwaves or millimeter waves. We describe the development of a novel two-dimensional scanning, passive, terahertz imaging system based on a hot electron bolometer (HEB) detector element. HEB mixers are near quantum-noise limited heterodyne detectors operating over the entire terahertz spectrum. HEB devices absorb terahertz radiation up to the visible range due to the very short momentum scattering times. The terahertz imaging system consists of the fron-end heterodyne detector integrated with the state-of-the-art MMICLNA ont he same mixer block. The terahertz local oscillator (LO) signals is provided by a commercial harmonic multiplier source

Proceedings Title

SPIE THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR OPTICAL ENGINEERING

Conference Dates

October 1-4, 2006

Conference Location

Boston, MA, USA

Conference Title

OPTICS EAST 006

Pub Type

Conferences

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Keywords

heterodyne detectors, hot electron bolometerrs, quasi-optical sstems, focal plane arrays., superconducting devices, Terahertz imaging, terahertz spectroscopy, terahertz receivers

Citation

Gerecht, E. , Gu, D. , Rodriquez-Morales, F. and Yngvesson, S. (2006), Imaging and Spectroscopy at Terahertz Frequencies Using Hot Electron Bolometer Technology, SPIE THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR OPTICAL ENGINEERING, Boston, MA, USA, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=32450 (Accessed October 20, 2025)