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THz Imaging |
Terahertz (THz) light is special since many materials like plastics and ceramics are transparent whereas
many biomolecules have distinct spectral signatures or fingerprints. THz imaging is considered
as a new tool in security screening at airports since clothing, plastic bags are transparent while
drugs and metal objects are detectable.
We explore THz imaging to ...
- detect nano-concentrations of biomolecules like proteins
- separate different biomolecules by correlating THz fingerprints with their structure
A THz image involves scanning a laser beam across a sample.
Array detectors typically suffer from the fact that they are not sensitive enough or extremely expensive.
However, our powerful unique THz lasers should allow to take an image in a single laser pulse onto
a normal array. This means THz imaging might get as easy as taking a photograph with a digital camera.
Examples of THz images taken with the germanium THz laser:
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THz scan of a bank note hologram at 2.4 THz and
a razor blade behind paper. Photo of the razor blade on paper from the metal side.
Paper absorbs only a little bit of THz light.
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The THz image shows several lactalbumin hydrolysate drops with different concentrations.
The minimum detectable dosage lies in the range of nanograms and nanomol's.
Each image pixel has been illuminated with just "one" laser pulse of a few microseconds length
to illustrate a single snap-shot.
Part of this research, initiated by D.R. Chamberlin, is supported by Agilent Technologies, San Jose.
We have reconstructed the company logo from lactalbumin hydrolysate drops and we took a THz image of it.
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If you are a student and like to get involved in the project contact Erik Bründermann.
We collaborate with the optoelectronics-group in engineering at RUB.
More information? ... see our general review
"Chemistry and medicine in a new light.
Science and fiction with terahertz light." published in
CLB Chemie in Labor und Biotechnik (2004), 55(2), 56-60 (in german).
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