Shulou(Shulou.com)11/24 Report--

As a new type of far-infrared detection method, terahertz (THz) imaging technology has received extensive attention in recent years. Due to the unique properties of terahertz radiation, such as low non-ionizing radiation energy and wide spectral information, this imaging technology shows strong application potential in many basic research and industrial fields. However, due to the long wavelength of terahertz wave, its imaging resolution has been limited.

The introduction of optical near-field technology can greatly improve the resolution, but the terahertz wave source or detector is required to be as close to the sample as possible. For soft materials or liquid materials in biomedical sensing and chemical detection, the traditional terahertz near-field technology is easy to damage the sample and contaminate the terahertz source or detector. Therefore, it is still a challenge to use terahertz near-field microscope in a wide range of applications.

Schematic diagram of terahertz near-field microscope based on air plasma dynamic aperture | XIN-KE WANG, JIA-SHENG YE, WEN-FENG SUN, PENG HAN, LEI HOU, AND YAN ZHANG

In a new paper published in the journal Light: Science & Applications, a team of scientists led by Beijing key Laboratory of metamaterials and Devices, key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Terahertz Ministry of Optoelectronics, Professor Wang Xinke and Professor Zhang Yan of Physics Department of Capital normal University developed a new type of terahertz near-field microscope. Terahertz sub-wavelength imaging can be realized when the equipment is not close to the sample.

Screenshot of ▲ web page

In this terahertz near-field technique, two overlapping air plasmas form a cross filament, which opens a dynamic aperture to modulate the intensity of the terahertz beam on the sample surface. When the cross filament is close enough to the sample surface, terahertz imaging with a resolution of tens of microns can be achieved. This technique effectively eliminates the limitation of sample selection in traditional terahertz near-field imaging and minimizes the damage to the sample.

To test the performance of the technology, the team measured terahertz sub-wavelength images of four materials, including metal resolution patterns, semiconductor chips, plastic models and oil stains. In addition, if the packaging is transparent to terahertz and visible light, the technology is also suitable for packaging samples in principle. Therefore, it can be expected that the method reported in this paper will greatly broaden the application of terahertz near-field microscopy, such as biomedical sensing and chemical detection.

Terahertz near-field imaging of ▲ semiconductor chips | reference [1]

reference

[1] Wang, Xk., Ye, Js., Sun, Wf. Et al. Terahertz near-field microscopy based on an air-plasma dynamic aperture. Light Sci Appl 11,129 (2022). Https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-022-00822-8

[2] https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/952657

Source of the question picture: reference [1]

Research team

Newsletter author Zhang Yan: professor and doctoral supervisor of Physics Department of Capital normal University, candidate of New Century Talent Program of Ministry of Education, candidate of Beijing Science and Technology New Star and 10 billion Talent Program, Beijing Great Wall Scholar, Director of Beijing key Laboratory of metamaterials and Devices. He graduated from Harbin Institute of Technology in 1994 and received his doctorate from the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1999. He has successively engaged in research work at Yamagata University in Japan, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Stuttgart University in Germany, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Lenster University of Technology in the United States and Constance University in Germany. He has undertaken more than 20 projects such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China, published more than 200 SCI papers in international journals such as Nature Photonics, Nature Communications, Advance Optical Materials, etc., cited more than 2500 times by SCI, and made more than 30 invitation reports at international conferences.

First author Wang Xinke: associate professor, Department of Physics, Capital normal University. He received his doctorate in optics from Harbin Institute of Technology in 2011, during which he mainly engaged in the research and development of focal plane terahertz pulse imaging technology. From 2009 to 2010, he went to Rensselaer Institute of Technology for one-year joint doctoral training, mainly engaged in phase imaging of continuous terahertz light waves, optical pumping / terahertz detection of matter, and so on. He worked at Capital normal University in 2011, and won the title of Associate Professor in 2013. he has published more than 30 SCI papers in Advanced Optical Materials, Optics Letters, Optics Express, Applied Physics Letters, Scientific Reports and other periodicals. He has won 1 American patent, 1 national invention patent, 1 utility model patent, and has presided over 4 projects such as the National Natural Science Foundation, the National "863" Program, and the Beijing Natural Science Foundation.

Paper information

Publish the journal Light: science and applications Light: Science & Applications

Released on May 7, 2022

Paper title Terahertz near-field microscopy based on an air-plasma dynamic aperture

(DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-022-00822-8)

Terahertz spectrum and imaging in the field of article

This article comes from the official account of Wechat: I am a scientist iScientist (ID:IamaScientist), compiled by Matrix Star Editor: crispy Fish typesetting: Yin Ningliu

Welcome to subscribe "Shulou Technology Information " to get latest news, interesting things and hot topics in the IT industry, and controls the hottest and latest Internet news, technology news and IT industry trends.