What is Terahertz Imaging?

This would suggest the term is an alternative for "infrared photography" or "infrared imaging", perhaps.

Can I see inside 10mm steel plate,

is it any good for detection of laminations,

is it good for detection of surface indications,

what is the real benifits of using this technology...?

<...see inside 10mm steel plate, is it any good for detection of laminations, is it good for detection of surface indications...>

X-rays would be a better method.

no direct ndt application for metal, " honey comb "composite , control surfaces might be a good application..pass the magic wand over the elevator.. see the metal that the beams " can't " penatrate, plus detect any cracks in the honeycomb..sure would beat the " tap " test ..

thinkin' if the metal has cracked , if , the beams detect the traces of honeycomb in that crack..maybe a reading..

vs the xray machine..cut the task time by , oh..80 % ?

is my guesstimate ..

T-rays are non-ionizing, able to penetrate clothing, polyethylene, polyester and other types of shrouds, covers and enclosures, made of various opaque materials, selectively absorbed by water and organic substances. These unique properties make T-rays much more attractive and informative than X-rays and near infrared radiation (NIR).

The second unique property of THz emission is its harmlessness for biological entities. As opposed to X-rays (Roentgen), terahertz waves have absolutely no ionizing radiation impact, are non-invasive and absolutely safe for humans, animals and plants. Moreover, many substances reveal to have their characteristics spectral lines in the far THz range (1 — 3 THz), which offers unique information about their structure and enables conducting their chemical analysis.

For more info please visit: tera-sense.com

Terahertz imaging is a viewing technology using terahertz (millimeter wavelength) electromagnetic energy. I believe one of the first commercial applications is now in service in the Denver air port. It can look right through your cloths and see what that you are hiding something. In fact the resolution is so good they were required to "blur" certain areas in order to "protect" individual's privacy. Terahertz energy is difficult to generate and detect and that has limited its utility until recent years. Terahertz energy is also being experimented with by the military for personnel control. You can induce a severe burning sensation at 100 meters with a fairly focused beam of energy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extremely_high_frequency

This is also used at some UK ports, I'm sure Dover has a portable unit. The scanner can see inside lorry containers to detect 'unusual' substances or stowaways. A TV programme recently showed one finding a large void in a container full of MDF sheets that, upon investigation, was found to be packed with marijuana.

The authorities also use sensitive microphones & CO2 detectors to scan lorries but the most successful method is still to use a small dog.

Terahertz Imaging is Use of electromagnetic radiation in Terahertz region (Tera-10¹²; typical accepated range is from 0.3Thz -10THz, corresponding 1mm - 30μm wavelength) for imaging applications. THz region lies between microwaves and the infrared waves. Advantage of THz for imaging stems from the fact that THz is tranmitted through non-conducting materials (eg. Clothing, plastic etc.,) and hence useful for security surveillance.The advantage of THz over X-rays is high resolution imaging (down to fraction of mm) and nonionising nature. However THz is strongly absorbed by metals and water.There are many applications for THz radiation.An informative article on application , sources of THz radiation (including images taken with THz radition) is available in the magazine named 'Photonics Spectra' Nov. 2006 issue, available online at http://www.photonics.com/Content/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=27186.

Terahertz (THz) frequency range (0.1 THz — 3 THz) is the last span within the whole electromagnetic wave spectrum, which has not been technologically and commercially developed. Because of that terahertz frequency range is often referred to in the world’s scientific literature as the “terahertz gap”. At the same time it is well known that this frequency range has incredibly fascinating prospects for many applications. THz radiation possesses three unique properties, which stimulate development of the whole terahertz industry. The major advantage of terahertz waves (of sub-terahertz frequency range 0.1 THz — 0.3 THz) is that many materials which block visible and IR spectra, reveal to be transparent in terahertz.

With that said, as compared to microwave radiation, terahertz (or T-ray) frequency range allows to achieve a fairly good spatial resolution required for rendering quality imaging. T-rays are non-ionizing, able to penetrate clothing, polyethylene, polyester and other types of shrouds, covers and enclosures, made of various opaque materials, selectively absorbed by water and organic substances. These unique properties make T-rays much more attractive and informative than X-rays and near infrared radiation (NIR).

The second unique property of THz emission is its harmlessness for biological entities. As opposed to X-rays (Roentgen), terahertz waves have absolutely no ionizing radiation impact, are non-invasive and absolutely safe for humans, animals and plants. Moreover, many substances reveal to have their characteristics spectral lines in the far THz range (1 — 3 THz), which offers unique information about their structure and enables conducting their chemical analysis.

During the last few decades there have been a lot of speculations about terahertz technology, yet not so many really successful breakthroughs have been made. TeraSense tries to bridge “terahertz gap” by developing a special imaging technology.

Terahertz rays (T-rays) are a unique type of electromagnetic radiation indeed, whose great potential is yet to be further developed by human civilization. Many of the existing T-rays devices often use single-pixel detectors, which require ultra-low temperatures of liquid helium. Such T-ray instruments are typically very large, difficult to use, very specialized for a specific narrow applications, and prohibitively expensive.