IR and THz technologies are widely used in security screening and surveillance, astronomy, spectroscopy, biomedicine, food and package inspection, detection of concealed weapons, vision through camouflage, etc. There are increasing demands for the fast transmission of large amounts of data. THz radiation penetrates dielectric materials like plastics, ceramics or cardboard allowing contact-free testing. Medical imaging technologies can provide guidance for surgeons in delimiting the margins of tumors, help clinicians to visualize diseased areas, etc. Keywords: THz and IR Detectors, THz and IR Sources, Superconducting Photon Detectors, Superconducting THz Detectors, Graphene-based Detectors, THz Sensors with Metamaterials, Photoconductive Antenna Detectors, Imaging, Communication, Spectroscopy, Sensing, Security Screening, Surveillance, Astronomy, Biomedicine, Food Inspection, Package Inspection, Concealed Weapons Detection, Transmission of Large Amounts of Data, Non-destructive Testing, Contact-free Testing, Medical Imaging Technologies.

The primary objective of this Field Guide to Terahertz Sources, Detectors, and Optics is to provide the reader with a concise description of the quasi-optical techniques used to design THz systems, as well as the basic principles of operation of the most common THz components in use today.

Key advances in Semiconductor Terahertz (THz) Technology now promises important new applications enabling scientists and engineers to overcome the challenges of accessing the so-called "terahertz gap". This pioneering reference explains the fundamental methods and surveys innovative techniques in the generation, detection and processing of THz waves with solid-state devices, as well as illustrating their potential applications in security and telecommunications, among other fields. With contributions from leading experts, Semiconductor Terahertz Technology: Devices and Systems at Room Temperature Operation comprehensively and systematically covers semiconductor-based room temperature operating sources such as photomixers, THz antennas, radiation concepts and THz propagation as well as room-temperature operating THz detectors. The second part of the book focuses on applications such as the latest photonic and electronic THz systems as well as emerging THz technologies including: whispering gallery resonators, liquid crystals, metamaterials and graphene-based devices. This book will provide support for practicing researchers and professionals and will be an indispensable reference to graduate students in the field of THz technology. Key features: Includes crucial theoretical background sections to photomixers, photoconductive switches and electronic THz generation & detection. Provides an extensive overview of semiconductor-based THz sources and applications. Discusses vital technologies for affordable THz applications. Supports teaching and studying increasingly popular courses on semiconductor THz technology.

The book offers a thorough introduction to machine vision. It is organized in two parts. The first part covers the image acquisition, which is the crucial component of most automated visual inspection systems. All important methods are described in great detail and are presented with a reasoned structure. The second part deals with the modeling and processing of image signals and pays particular regard to methods, which are relevant for automated visual inspection.

This book details groundbreaking experiments for the sensing and imaging of terahertz-frequency electromagnetic radiation (THz) using Rydberg atoms. The major advances described include the development and implementation of a new technique for THz imaging using atomic fluorescence; the demonstration of a THz-driven phase transition in room-temperature atomic vapour; and a novel method for probing the excited-state dynamics of atoms using quantum beats. The work has formed the basis for several articles published in journals including Nature Photonics and the Physical Review, and has sparked industry interest, becoming the subject of ongoing collaborative research and development. This exceptionally well-written book provides a definitive account of terahertz sensing with Rydberg atoms.

Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) is a unique technique for characterizing the response of materials and devices in the far-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Based on the measurement of transmitted or reflected ultra-short electromagnetic pulses and on a Fourier-transform of the recorded waveforms, THz-TDS permits fast and precise determination of the permittivity or permeability of materials over a wide bandwidth. This book is devoted to the determination of this spectral response of samples from the recorded waveforms.

This book advances understanding of light-induced phase transitions and nonequilibrium orders that occur in a broken-symmetry system. Upon excitation with an intense laser pulse, materials can undergo a nonthermal transition through pathways different from those in equilibrium. The mechanism underlying these photoinduced phase transitions has long been researched, but many details in this ultrafast, non-adiabatic regime still remain to be clarified. The work in this book reveals new insights into this phenomena via investigation of photoinduced melting and recovery of charge density waves (CDWs). Using several time-resolved diffraction and spectroscopic techniques, the author shows that the light-induced melting of a CDW is characterized by dynamical slowing-down, while the restoration of the symmetry-breaking order features two distinct timescales: A fast recovery of the CDW amplitude is followed by a slower re-establishment of phase coherence, the latter of which is dictated by the presence of topological defects in the CDW. Furthermore, after the suppression of the original CDW by photoexcitation, a different, competing CDW transiently emerges, illustrating how a hidden order in equilibrium can be unleashed by a laser pulse. These insights into CDW systems may be carried over to other broken-symmetry states, such as superconductivity and magnetic ordering, bringing us one step closer towards manipulating phases of matter using a laser pulse.

The recent development of easy-to-use sources and detectors of terahertz radiation has enabled growth in applications of terahertz (Thz) imaging and sensing. This vastly adaptable technology offers great potential across a wide range of areas, and the Handbook of terahertz technology for imaging, sensing and communications explores the fundamental principles, important developments and key applications emerging in this exciting field.Part one provides an authoritative introduction to the fundamentals of terahertz technology for imaging, sensing and communications. The generation, detection and emission of waves are discussed alongside fundamental aspects of surface plasmon polaritons, terahertz near-field imaging and sensing, room temperature terahertz detectors and terahertz wireless communications. Part two goes on to discuss recent progress and such novel techniques in terahertz technology as terahertz bio-sensing, array imagers, and resonant field enhancement of terahertz waves. Fiber-coupled time-domain spectroscopy systems (THz-TDS), terahertz photomixer systems, terahertz nanotechnology, frequency metrology and semiconductor material development for terahertz applications are all reviewed. Finally, applications of terahertz technology are explored in part three, including applications in tomographic imaging and material spectroscopy, art conservation, and the aerospace, wood products, semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries.With its distinguished editor and international team of expert contributors, the Handbook of terahertz technology for imaging, sensing and communications is an authoritative guide to the field for laser engineers, manufacturers of sensing devices and imaging equipment, security companies, the military, professionals working in process monitoring, and academics interested in this field. - Examines techniques for the generation and detection of terahertz waves - Discusses material development for terahertz applications - Explores applications in tomographic imaging, art conservation and the pharmaceutical and aerospace industries

Research and development in the terahertz portion of the electromagnetic spectrum has expanded very rapidly during the past fifteen years due to major advances in sources, detectors and instrumentation. Many scientists and engineers are entering the field and this volume offers a comprehensive and integrated treatment of all aspects of terahertz technology. The three authors, who have been active researchers in this region over a number of years, have designed Terahertz Techniques to be both a general introduction to the subject and a definitive reference resource for all those involved in this exciting research area.

This book provides a practical guide to terahertz electronics, especially for readers with an electronics background. The author guides readers through the all the key concepts of terahertz electronics, including terahertz sources, detectors, and waveguides, together with reviews on key terahertz applications on spectroscopy, imaging, communication, and radar. This book will serve as a handy reference for graduate students and engineers in the field of terahertz with a viewpoint from electronics. Presents the topic of terahertz from electronics viewpoint; Designed to be particularly helpful for the readers familiar with semiconductor devices and circuits; Enables optics-based terahertz researchers to understand terahertz electronics; Based on the author’s extensive experience from both industry and academia.