Portable Terahertz Systems Based on Advanced InP Technology - PORTRAIT

这项工作的目的是创造新型的便携式辐射源和探测器。这些设备将是手持的，大约是普通手电筒的大小，并将使用电池。它们工作在太赫兹(THz)范围内，这可以被认为是非常高频的无线电波，或者是人眼看不见的光。在很长一段时间里，产生和检测太赫兹一直是相当困难的，但近年来，人们使用了强大的激光来产生太赫兹辐射脉冲。事实证明，这在医学应用中非常有用，可以建立身体组织的图像，就像X光一样，可以显示异常情况。其他正在研究的有趣领域包括将太赫兹用于化石成像、化学和气体分析、安全和天文学。该项目的工作旨在制造新一代太赫兹可以放在口袋里携带的“手电筒”和“相机”。这种设备体积小、功耗低、携带方便，将允许人们在机场安检等应用中使用太赫兹辐射，以筛查爆炸性化学品或毒品，寻找当地环境中的污染，甚至用于药店或全科医生帮助诊断。这项工作的一个特点是建立在为光通信系统开发的光电子技术的基础上，这些技术为先进的制造技术提供了良好的基础，从而生产出能够低功耗和高效率地在室温下运行的高可靠性组件。伦敦大学学院、巴斯和埃塞克斯将与集成光子学中心(CIP)合作，设计、制造和表征用于太赫兹操作的新型元件。利兹将把重点放在用户和应用问题上，对新旧系统的性能进行详细的比较。

This work is aimed at creating new types of portable sources and detectors of radiation. These will be handheld, about the size of a normal torch, and will run off batteries. They work in the terahertz (THz) range, this can be thought of either as very high frequency radio waves or as light which is invisible to the human eye. For a long time it has been quite difficult to generate and detect THz, but over recent years people have used large powerful lasers to create pulses of THz radiation. This has proved very useful in medical applications to build up pictures of body tissue, rather like an x-ray, which can show up abnormalities. Other interesting areas being studied include using THz in fossil imaging, analysing chemicals and gases, in security and in astronomy.The work in the project aims to make a new generation of THz 'torches' and 'cameras' which can be carried in the pocket. Making the devices, small, low power and portable, will allow people to use THz radiation in applications like airport security to screen for explosive chemicals or drugs, to look for pollution in the local environment, and even to be used in pharmacies or GPs for helping with diagnosis. Moreover the radiation they use will be very 'pure' and that will help to make very sensitive detection.A feature of the work is to build upon the optoelectronic technologies developed for optical communications systems which provides a good foundation of advanced fabrication techniques leading to high reliability components capable of low power and efficient room temperature operation. UCL, Bath and Essex will work together with the Centre for Integrated Photonics (CIP), to design, fabricate and characterise novel components for THz operation. Leeds will focus on users and applications issues undertaking a detailed comparison between the performances of old and new systems.