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。这些将是手持的，大约是一个正常的火炬大小，并将运行电池。它们在太赫兹（THz）范围内工作，这可以被认为是非常高频率的无线电波或人眼不可见的光。很长一段时间以来，产生和检测太赫兹一直很困难，但近年来人们已经使用大功率激光器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射线一样，可以显示异常。其他正在研究的有趣领域包括在化石成像，化学品和气体分析，安全和天文学中使用太赫兹。该项目的工作旨在制造新一代可以放在口袋里的太赫兹“火炬”和“相机”。使这些设备体积小，功耗低，便携式，将允许人们在机场安全等应用中使用太赫兹辐射来筛选爆炸性化学品或药物，寻找当地环境中的污染，甚至用于药房或全科医生帮助诊断。此外，他们使用的辐射将是非常“纯”的，这将有助于进行非常灵敏的检测。这项工作的一个特点是建立在为光通信系统开发的光电技术基础上，这为先进的制造技术提供了良好的基础，从而能够实现低功耗和高效的室温操作的高可靠性组件。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、制造和组装用于太赫兹操作的新型组件。利兹将专注于用户和应用程序的问题，进行详细的比较性能的旧系统和新系统。

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.