MRI: Development of Tomographic Imaging Instrumentation with Terahertz Radiation

Rensselaer理工学院太赫兹(THz)研究中心正在为开发太赫兹波断层成像系统寻求NSF支持，该系统将提供有史以来第一个THz能力，以产生实时、大范围、远距离、三维(3D)图像。与传统的X射线CT系统一样，太赫兹系统将提供结构化物体的3D映射，但不会使生物组织受到有害辐射。此外，它还将提供常规系统无法提供的重要光谱信息。该仪器将提供从100千兆赫到10太赫兹的超宽带实时图像，帧速率从单次拍摄到每秒1000帧不等，它将能够非侵入性地对运动物体、湍流和爆炸进行成像。太赫兹研究是伦斯勒战略计划的核心，因为它是该大学两个主要重点领域--信息技术和生物技术--的关键使能技术。伦斯勒大力支持以张博士为创始主任的太赫兹中心的成立。该大学将提供5000平方英尺的实验室空间，为翻新和设备提供大量资金支持，并在未来四年内提供三个新的教职员工职位，同时增加研究生和本科生研究人员。智力优势：拟议中的仪器将是THZ科学向前迈出的重要一步。在过去的十年里，伦斯勒的团队一直在探索这一先前隐藏的电磁频谱部分，它位于红外和微波波段之间。基本的太赫兹科学和技术尚处于初级阶段，但随着它的改进，它有可能引发变革性的进步，从而影响到各个层面的经济发展和生活质量。可能获得重要新仪器的跨学科领域的例子包括国土安全、生物医学研究、通信、环境监测、农业和法医科学。广泛影响：设备的成功开发将产生广泛的影响。近年来，全世界对这一领域的热情呈指数级增长，自1990年以来，越来越多的研究小组发表了1400多篇关于太赫兹科学的科学论文，这就是明证。在过去的几年里，来自75所大学、公司和诊所的科学家和工程师参观了伦斯勒太赫兹相关项目，伦斯勒的团队帮助来自18个国家的科学家学习如何使用太赫兹传感器。这一新仪器将成为太赫兹中心的一项关键技术，为伦斯勒教员、博士后助理、研究生和本科生组成的跨学科小组以及来访的科学家和外部合作者提供新的研究能力。它将被用来测试太赫兹频率范围内的许多先进的传感和成像概念，目前的重点是国土安全，以及对生物医学应用的长期兴趣。杰斐逊实验室、加州大学圣巴巴拉分校和伦塞拉分校已经提议建立国家太赫兹用户设施，该系统将位于其中一个用户节点的核心。根据过去伦斯勒太赫兹研究的经验，该仪器还有望为将在世界各地的实验室开发的系统提供一个模型。

Development of Tomographic Imaging Instrumentation with Terahertz RadiationA Project SummaryThe Center for Terahertz (THz) Research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is seeking NSFsupport for the development of a THz wave tomographic imaging system that will provide thefirst-ever THz capability to produce real-time, large-scale, long-distance, three-dimensional (3D)images. Like conventional X-ray CT systems, the THz system will provide 3D mapping ofstructured objects, but without subjecting biological tissue to harmful radiation. In addition, itwill offer important spectroscopic information that conventional systems cannot supply. Theinstrumentation will provide real-time images across an ultra-wide frequency band, extendingfrom 100 gigahertz to 10 terahertz, at a variable frame rate from single-shot up to 1,000 framesper second, and it will be able to non-invasively image moving objects, turbulent flows, orexplosions.THz research is central to Rensselaer's strategic plan because it is a key enabling technology forboth of the university's major focus areas, information technology and biotechnology.Rensselaer has strongly supported the formation of the THz Center, with Dr. Zhang as foundingdirector. The university is providing 5,000 square feet of laboratory space, substantial financialsupport for renovation and equipment, and three new faculty positions in the next four years,with a concomitant increase in graduate and undergraduate researchers.Intellectual merit: The proposed instrumentation will be an important step forward for THzscience. During the last decade, Rensselaer's team has been exploring this previously hiddenportion of the electromagnetic spectrum, which is located between the infrared and themicrowave bands. Basic THz science and technology is in its infancy, but as it improves, it hasthe potential to trigger transformational advances that will impact economic development andquality of life at every level. Examples of interdisciplinary fields that could gain important newinstrumentation include homeland security, biomedical research, communications, environmentalmonitoring, agriculture, and forensic science.Broader impact: Successful development of the equipment will have a broad impact. In recentyears, worldwide excitement about this field has grown exponentially, as evidenced by anexpanding number of research groups that have published more than 1,400 scientific papers onTHz science since 1990. During the last several years, scientists and engineers from 75universities, companies, and clinics have visited Rensselaer THz-related programs, andRensselaer's team has helped scientists from 18 countries learn how to use THz sensors. Thisnew instrumentation will be a key enabling technology for the THz Center, providing newresearch capabilities for an interdisciplinary group of Rensselaer faculty, postdoctoral associates,and graduate and undergraduate students, as well as for visiting scientists and externalcollaborators. It will be used to test numerous advanced sensing and imaging concepts in theTHz frequency range, with immediate concentration on homeland security and a longer-terminterest in biomedical applications. Jefferson Laboratory, UC Santa Barbara, and Rensselaerhave proposed creation of the National THz User Facility, and this system would be at the heartof one of the user nodes. Based on past experience with Rensselaer's THz research, theinstrumentation is also expected to provide a model for systems that will be developed inlaboratories around the world.