Full-Field Terahertz Imaging at Kilohertz Frame Rates Using Atomic Vapor

Downes, Lucy A.; MacKellar, Andrew R.; Whiting, Daniel J.; Bourgenot, Cyril; Adams, Charles S.; Weatherill, Kevin J.

Abstract

There is much interest in employing terahertz (THz) radiation across a range of imaging applications, but so far, technologies have struggled to achieve the necessary frame rates. Here, we demonstrate a THz imaging system based upon efficient THz-to-optical conversion in atomic vapor, where full-field images can be collected at ultrahigh speeds using conventional optical camera technology. For a 0.55-THz field, we show an effective 1-cm2 sensor with near diffraction-limited spatial resolution and a minimum detectable power of ð190 30Þ fW s−1=2 per ð40 × 40Þ μm2 pixel capable of video capture at 3000 frames per second. This combination of speed and sensitivity represents a step change in the state of the art of THz imaging and will likely lead to its uptake in wider industrial settings.

Citation

Downes, L. A., MacKellar, A. R., Whiting, D. J., Bourgenot, C., Adams, C. S., & Weatherill, K. J. (2020). Full-Field Terahertz Imaging at Kilohertz Frame Rates Using Atomic Vapor. Physical Review X, 10(1), Article 011027. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevx.10.011027

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 6, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Feb 7, 2020
• Publication Date: Feb 7, 2020
• Deposit Date: Feb 10, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 10, 2020
• Journal: Physical Review X
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 011027
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevx.10.011027