Handhold High Resolution Visual Detector for Ceramic Armor

We propose to design and implement a novel field portable THz detector for examining vehicle armor panel and body armor based on the high frequency (0.5-10 THz) and high power THz source and a commercial high resolution focal-plane array (FPA) camera. The crucial high frequency THz source will have subwatt-level power that is sufficient to penetrate thick armor ceramics for high resolution imaging, which will be designed and implemented. The proposed field portable THz detector will provides unique and high resolution diagnostic tools for identifying and locating the non-ballistic impacts of vehicle armor panel and body armor in the field. Furthermore, it will be the most promising detector for homeland security, especially for the remote sensing and imaging of hazardous materials, such as improvised explosive devices (IED), drugs and poison chemicals due to its high power, tunable high frequency and high resolution.