Terahertz Imaging System for Sensing of Chemical and Biological Agents

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Research:This Small Grant for Exploratory Research is being funded under NSF 02-2: "Next Generation Chemical and Biological Sensors and Sensing Systems." The objective of the research is to establish proof-of-concept of a novel way to monitor, detect, and characterize concealed biological and chemical agents that pose threats to people, buildings, mass transportation, urban environments, mail/packages, etc. The method to be studied is non-invasive, and allows for real-time, wide-area/field-of-view surveillance. The technical approach is to detect these agents via spatial interferometric imaging of their characteristic transmission or reflectivity wavelength spectrum in the Terahertz (THz) electro-magnetic radiation range (0.1-3 THz). Neural network analyses of the THz spectra and images will provide the specificity of agent detection and reduce the frequency of false alarms.Impact:The research is to promote homeland security - its impact is thus timely and important. In addition, the institution has a primarily minority student population.