Real-time passive terahertz imaging system for standoff concealed weapons imaging

Arttu Luukanen, Leif Grönberg, Markus Grönholm, Petteri Lappalainen, Mikko Leivo, Anssi Rautiainen, A. Tamminen, J. Ala-Laurinaho, C. R. Dietlein, E. N. Grossman

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference article in proceedingsScientific

    24 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The performance of stand-off imaging systems of concealed weapons in the mm-wave range remains limited by the relatively poor angular resolution using practical aperture sizes.
    For this reason, increasing the operating frequency of the systems is desired, but in practice is hard to realize due to the lack of affordable, low noise amplifiers well beyond 100 GHz. In this paper we present a passive terahertz imaging system which acquires passive terahertz (~200 GHz - ~1 THz) imagery near video frame rate. The system, one copy of which is built in Finland and the other in the U.S., is based on a 64 pixel linear array of superconducting antenna-coupled microbolometers operated within a commercial cryogen-free closed cycle cryocooler, and utilizes conical scanning Schmidt optics.
    Quantitative measurements on the imager resolution metrics (thermal, spatial and temporal) will be presented.
    The results from field tests at the Helsinki-Vantaa airport will be presented.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationProceedings of SPIE
    Subtitle of host publicationPassive Millimeter-Wave Imaging Technology XIII
    EditorsDavid A. Wikner, Arttu R. Luukanen
    PublisherInternational Society for Optics and Photonics SPIE
    ISBN (Print)978-0-8194-8134-4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2010
    MoE publication typeB3 Non-refereed article in conference proceedings
    EventSPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing. Passive Millimeter-Wave Imaging Technology XIII - Orlando, Florida, United States
    Duration: 5 Apr 20109 Apr 2010

    Publication series

    SeriesProceedings of SPIE
    Volume7670
    ISSN0277-786X

    Conference

    ConferenceSPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing. Passive Millimeter-Wave Imaging Technology XIII
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    CityOrlando, Florida
    Period5/04/109/04/10

    Keywords

    • bolometer
    • cryogenic sensors
    • Passive
    • stand-off detection
    • Terahertz
    • THz
    • video rate

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