Real-time imaging using a 4.3-THz quantum cascade laser and a 320 /spl times/ 240 microbolometer focal-plane array

Author

Lee, Alan W M ; Williams, Benjamin S. ; Kumar, Sushil ; Hu, Qing ; Reno, John L.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. Eng. & Comput. Sci., MIT, Cambridge, MA

Volume

18

Issue

13

fYear

2006

fDate

7/1/2006 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1415

Lastpage

1417

Abstract

We report the use of a ~50-mW peak power 4.3-THz quantum cascade laser (QCL) as an illumination source for real-time imaging with a 320 times 240 element room-temperature microbolometer focal-plane array detector. The QCL is modulated synchronously with the focal-plane array for differential imaging. Signal-to-noise ratios of ~340 are achieved at a 20-frame/s acquisition rate, and the optical noise equivalent power of the detector array at 4.3 THz is estimated to be ~320 pW/radicHz. Both reflection and transmission mode imaging are demonstrated

Keywords

bolometers; focal planes; optical modulation; optical noise; quantum cascade lasers; remote sensing by laser beam; submillimetre wave imaging; submillimetre wave lasers; synchronisation; 293 to 298 K; 4.3 THz; 50 mW; detector array; differential imaging; focal-plane array; illumination source; microbolometer; optical noise; quantum cascade laser; real-time imaging; reflection mode imaging; room temperature; signal-to-noise ratio; synchronization; transmission mode imaging; Detectors; Finite impulse response filter; Frequency; Laboratories; Optical arrays; Optical imaging; Optical noise; Quantum cascade lasers; Sensor arrays; Signal to noise ratio; Imaging; quantum cascade laser (QCL); real time; terahertz;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LPT.2006.877220

Filename

1643241