STTR Phase I: High Speed Terahertz Tomographic Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) Imaging System

这项小型企业技术转让（STTR）第一阶段项目提出发展高速太赫兹（THz）层析无损评估（NDE）成像系统的技术和理论基础。提出了构建和评估一个多太赫兹发射和接收模块阵列试验台，用于商用光谱仪系统。该测试台将配置为层析配置，并在第一阶段最初使用4和6个元件。该测试台将用于评估1)功能参数和从由同一分裂光纤源驱动的模块阵列收集多通道数据的可行性；2)阵列扫描简单测试对象重建三维层析成像的功能参数及可行性。太赫兹成像显示出巨大的潜力，在成像速度和三维图像重建方面有巨大的创新和研究潜力。图像形成率和三维图像构造被认为是将该技术广泛应用于商业应用的两个最重要的促成因素。太赫兹层析成像技术在无损检测和国土安全领域具有巨大的市场潜力。太赫兹成像可用于航空航天和其他行业的塑料和复合材料的无损检测，以确保制造部件的强度和安全性。此外，隐藏爆炸物、生物制剂、化学武器、易燃物、金属和非金属武器以及其他潜在危险物品的快速成像是许多民用和政府机构（运输安全、执法）以及商业航空等行业非常关注的问题。此次STTR合作将促进工业和大学在这一快速发展领域的发展合作。

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project proposes to develop the technological and theoretical foundation of a high-speed terahertz (THz) tomographic non-destructive evaluation (NDE) imaging system. It is proposed to construct and evaluate a multiple THz transmitter and receiver module array test-bed to be employed with a commercially availability spectrometer system. This test-bed will be configured in a tomographic configuration and initially employ 4 and 6 elements in Phase I. This test-bed will be used to evaluate 1) the functional parameters and the feasibility of gathering multiple channels of data from an array of modules driven by the same split fiber optic source; and 2) the functional parameters and the feasibility of the reconstruction of 3 dimensional tomographic images from simple test objects scanned by the array. THz imaging has shown great potential, and there is great potential for innovation and research to provide a quantum leap in imaging speed and three dimensional image reconstruction. The image formation rate and three-dimensional image construction have been identified as two of the most important enabling factors in the widespread adoption of this technology for commercial applications.THz tomography offers tremendous market potential in the fields of Non-Destructive Examination (NDE), and homeland security. THz imaging can be used for the NDE of plastic and composite materials in aerospace and other industries, to insure strength and safety of manufactured components. In addition, rapid imaging of concealed explosives, biological agents, chemical weapons, flammables, metallic and non-metallic weapons, and other potentially dangerous items are of great concern to many civilian and governmental agencies (transportation security, law enforcement), and industries such as commercial aviation. This STTR collaboration will foster the developmental collaboration between industry and university in this rapidly advancing field.