Open AccessNon-destructive drug inspection in covering materials using a terahertz spectral imaging system with injection-seeded terahertz parametric generation and detection
Author(s) -
Masaya Kato,
Saroj R. Tripathi,
Kosuke Murate,
Kazuki Imayama,
Kodo Kawase
Publication year - 2016
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.24.006425
Subject(s) - terahertz radiation , optics , materials science , parametric statistics , spectral imaging , dynamic range , optoelectronics , physics , statistics , mathematics
In 2003, we reported the first-ever development of a spectral imaging system for illicit drugs detection using a terahertz (THz) wave parametric oscillator (TPO) [K. Kawase et al., Opt. Exp. 11(20), 2549 2003]. The system has a dynamic range below four orders of magnitude, which enables it to identify reagents only through thin envelopes using spectral imaging. Recently, we succeeded in developing a high power and high sensitivity THz wave spectral imaging system using injection-seeded THz parametric generation and detection. A dynamic range in excess of 80 dB has been obtained, which is much higher than that of the 2003 system. In this study, the new spectral imaging system successfully identified reagents through thicker material than the thin envelopes used previously.