A Reflection Based, Pulsed THz Imaging System With 1 mm Spatial Resolution

Z. D. Taylor, R. S. Singh, E. R. Brown, J. E. Bjarnason, M. P. Hanson, A. C. Gossard

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Operating in reflection and using single pixel, whiskbroom scanning to generate images, we report on a THz imaging system with a spatial resolution of 1 mm and a post detection SNR of 67 dB. The source in the system is an ErAs:GaAs photoconductive switch, , and the detector is a waveguide mounted, zero-bias Schottky diode operating at a center frequency of 600 GHz and a 3 dB bandwidth of 200 GHz. The high output power of the photoconductive switch and large instantaneous bandwidth of both switch and detector allow the system to achieve this high post detection SNR in a 60 Hz bandwidth when reflecting off a specular metal target at a standoff of 4 cm. The spatial resolution is superior to that predicted by the standard Rayleigh criterion as expected from the systems' Gaussian (non uniform) illumination, but is inferior to the Sparrow Criterion due to the presence of system noise, and discrete rounding of sample amplitudes.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2007 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest
Pages1161-1164
Number of pages4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007
Externally publishedYes
Event2007 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, IMS 2007 - Honolulu, HI, United States
Duration: Jun 3 2007Jun 8 2007

Publication series

NameIEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest
ISSN (Print)0149-645X

Conference

Conference2007 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, IMS 2007
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityHonolulu, HI
Period6/3/076/8/07

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Radiation
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Keywords

  • Image resolution
  • Imaging
  • Submillimeter wave imaging
  • Submillimeter wave switches
  • Submillimeter wave technology

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