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Photonic imaging and sensing
In this programme we will use our patented non-linear optical materials to develop components for generating and detecting terahertz radiation for imaging and sensing in the security, medical, electronics, agricultural and food industries. The key advantage of THz[?] systems is that they allow non-destructive testing with safe, non-ionising radiation.
In addition, unlike x-rays, THz[?] imaging and sensing is able to:
- detect materials with low atomic numbers such as drugs and explosives
- image through clothing, packaging or non metal structures such as non-metal pipes
- detect cracking or delamination in non-metal structures
- determine fluid type or level
- provide possible chemical sensing applications where other technologies (e.g. infrared spectroscopy, mass quadrupole spectrometers) do not provide the required sensitivity.
While commercial THz systems do exist, their widespread use is limited by the power of existing THz sources in the relevant frequency range, the sensitivity of THz detectors and their high cost. We will overcome these problems by using non-linear optical materials as well as strongly correlated materials to construct new THz emitters and detectors, followed by new components. The critical components will be based on thick and thin films that require patterning and metal contacts.
Our research team includes physicists and chemists at IRL, Quest Reliability, the University of Auckland, Southern Photonics, Massey University and the University of Otago.
