Open AccessCompact, high average power, fiber-pumped terahertz source for active real-time imaging of concealed objects
Author(s) -
Daniel Creeden,
Jean McCarthy,
Peter A. Ketteridge,
Peter G. Schunemann,
Timothy Southward,
J.J. Komiak,
E. P. Chicklis
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.15.006478
Subject(s) - terahertz radiation , optics , materials science , laser , microbolometer , optoelectronics , physics , bolometer , detector
We have modeled and demonstrated a scalable, compact, fiber-pumped terahertz source based on difference frequency mixing (DFM) in zinc germanium phosphide (ZGP) capable of producing high average and peak-power pulses. Currently, our terahertz source produces 2 mW of average THz power and >40 W of peak power with sub-nanosecond pulses at a repetition rate of 100 kHz in the range of 2-3 THz without cryogenic cooling or ultra-fast optics. This high average power laser-based terahertz output enables the real-time imaging of concealed objects using an off-the-shelf uncooled microbolometer focal-plane array. With this THz system, we have imaged objects obscured inside in a common shipping envelope, demonstrating the potential of compact laser-based terahertz sources for use in security screening applications.