A microbolometer-based THz imager

Abstract

THz imaging is a very promising field rapidly growing in importance. This expanding field is at its early stage of development but already a large number of applications are foreseen. THz imaging promises to be a key technology in various fields, such as defense & security where it can be used to defeat camouflage. Based on its many years of experience in uncooled bolometers technology, INO has developed, assembled and characterized a prototype THz imager. The camera's 160 × 120 pixel array consists of pixels with a 52 μm pitch that have been optimized for the THz region. Custom camera electronics and an F/1 THz lens barrel complete the imager design. Real-time imaging at video rate of 30 frame/sec has been performed with a 3 THz quantum cascade laser set-up. THz images of numerous object-obscurant combinations are presented, proving the feasibility of video imaging in security screening applications.