MRI: Development of a Sub-waivelength THz Spectral Imager for Photonic and Phononic Metamaterial and Devices Research at the Univesity of Arizona

研究目的与方法：本研究的目的是设计和构建一台最先进的太赫兹近场光谱成像仪。该方法是结合联合收割机最近开发的计算传感技术和超材料启发的电小天线技术，以实现高度亚波长成像能力。这种增强的成像能力将改变目前对物理和生物过程的理解，以及太赫兹设备和系统的工程设计。与现有的商用太赫兹仪器相比，先进技术的结合将产生具有前所未有的信噪比和分辨率的太赫兹近场光谱成像仪。参与的学生，博士后，教师将获得宝贵的实践经验，因为各个组成部分在项目过程中被整合到一个功能状态中，艺术系统，然后用于探索生物学和材料的前沿应用。更广泛的影响：由此产生的仪器不仅将提供给当地研究人员，还将提供给更广泛的太赫兹社区，包括当地工业以及国家和国际合作者。这将使该仪器的独特能力能够应用于具有高度社会和经济影响的各种太赫兹研究领域，包括声子纳米结构的光谱学;被动和主动超材料的研究;以及单细胞生物过程的研究。这些机会将有力地鼓励学生，特别是来自代表性不足的群体和种族多样的人口，例如，美洲土著Tohono O 'odham民族的学生参加。

Research Objectives and Approaches:The objective of this research is to design and construct a state-of-the-art terahertz near-field spectral imager. The approach is to combine recently developed computational sensing techniques and metamaterial-inspired electrically-small antenna technologies to achieve highly sub-wavelength imaging capabilities. This enhanced imaging capability will transform the current understanding of physical and biological processes as well as the engineering of terahertz devices and systems.Intellectual Merit:In contrast to existing commercially available terahertz instrumentation, the combination of advanced technologies will produce a terahertz near-field spectral imager with unprecedented signal-to-noise ratio and resolution.Participating students, postdocs, and faculty will gain invaluable practical experience as the individual components are integrated over the course of the project into a functioning state-of-the-art system that is then used to explore cutting-edge applications in biology and materials. In addition, the resulting instrument lays the groundwork for further research of all types in the terahertz band.Broader Impact:The resulting instrument will be made available not only to local researchers, but also to the wider terahertz community including local industry and national and international collaborators. This will allow the instrument's unique capabilities to be brought to bear on a variety of terahertz research areas with high societal and economic impact, including spectroscopy of phononic nanostructures; investigations of passive and active metamaterials; and studies of biological processes in single cells. These opportunities will strongly encourage students, especially from underrepresented groups and ethnically diverse populations, for example, the Native American Tohono O'odham Nation, to participate.