High-performance sub-terahertz transmission imaging system for food inspection

Biomed Opt Express. 2015 Apr 29;6(5):1929-41. doi: 10.1364/BOE.6.001929. eCollection 2015 May 1.

Abstract

Unlike X-ray systems, a terahertz imaging system can distinguish low-density materials in a food matrix. For applying this technique to food inspection, imaging resolution and acquisition speed ought to be simultaneously enhanced. Therefore, we have developed the first continuous-wave sub-terahertz transmission imaging system with a polygonal mirror. Using an f-theta lens and a polygonal mirror, beam scanning is performed over a range of 150 mm. For obtaining transmission images, the line-beam is incorporated with sample translation. The imaging system demonstrates that a pattern with 2.83 mm line-width at 210 GHz can be identified with a scanning speed of 80 mm/s.

Keywords: (110.6795) Terahertz imaging; (120.4290) Nondestructive testing.