Imaging of broadband terahertz beams using an array of antenna-coupled microbolometers operating at room temperature

Opt Express. 2013 Feb 25;21(4):4817-25. doi: 10.1364/OE.21.004817.

Abstract

We present results of 2D real-time imaging of terahertz (THz) beam generated by a photoconductive antenna driven by a femtosecond oscillator. The detector, operating at room temperature, is a 320 x 240 array of antenna-coupled microbolometers with integrated CMOS read-out electronics delivering 25 images per second. High quality images of broadband THz beams covering the 0.1-2 THz range are recorded while maintaining a signal-to-noise ratio of 10 for detected THz power as low as 25 nW. The compactness of the easy-to-use uncooled camera makes it very useful for the alignment of systems such as THz time-domain spectrometers and for the characterization of emitters, optics and other components.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Miniaturization
  • Radiometry / instrumentation*
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance / instrumentation*
  • Temperature
  • Terahertz Imaging / instrumentation*
  • Terahertz Radiation*