Portable Terahertz Imaging System

"This Phase I SBIR proposal describes a development program aimed at designing and fabricating a semiconductor terahertz quantum cascade (QC) laser, and demonstrating its operation in a proof-of-concept system for biological imaging. QC lasers havedemonstrated coherent emission at and above room-temperature at wavelengths beyond 10 microns, and have recently also demonstrated terahertz emission at cryogenic temperatures. This suggests the possibility of small and efficient terahertz laser sources.The potential for room-temperature terahertz emission makes this laser an excellent candidate for portable terahertz imaging applications. Phase I will deal with the design, fabrication, and testing of a terahertz laser, the selection and use of aterahertz imaging detector, and preliminary demonstration of general imaging capability using paper envelopes and grocery-purchased chicken organs. Spire will collaborate with the Optics and Quantum Electronics Group, Research Laboratory of Electronics atMIT, which has a collaborative effort with Sandia National Laboratory on terahertz laser development. The QC laser will be fabricated and tested at MIT, and a pyroelectric detector imaging array will be specified and used in a proof-of-conceptdemonstration. During Phase II, Spire will develop and fabricate a prototype, portable biological imaging system and work towards commercialization of the technology. The commercial availability of a port