Open AccessImaging with a Terahertz quantum cascade laser
Author(s) -
J. Darmo,
V. Tamošiūnas,
G. Fasching,
J. Kröll,
K. Unterrainer,
Mattias Beck,
Marcella Giovannini,
Jérôme Faist,
Christian Kremser,
Paul Debbage
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/opex.12.001879
Subject(s) - terahertz radiation , optics , photomixing , quantum cascade laser , laser , far infrared laser , terahertz spectroscopy and technology , cascade , radiation , optoelectronics , medical imaging , wavelength , biological imaging , physics , terahertz metamaterials , materials science , computer science , chemistry , chromatography , artificial intelligence , fluorescence
We demonstrate bio-medical imaging using a Terahertz quantum cascade laser. This new optoelectronic source of coherent Terahertz radiation allows building a compact imaging system with a large dynamic range and high spatial resolution. We obtain images of a rat brain section at 3.4 THz. Distinct regions of brain tissue rich in fat, proteins, and fluid-filled cavities are resolved showing the high contrast of Terahertz radiation for biological tissue. These results suggest that continuous-wave Terahertz imaging with a carefully chosen wavelength can provide valuable data on samples of biological origin; these data appear complementary to those obtained from white-light images.