In developing terahertz (THz) technologies that are more suitable for industrial applications, we have focused on research on continuous-wave (CW) THz technologies to develop small, low-cost, and multifunctional THz devices and systems. In the course of this research, we have developed several key devices such as widely tunable compact beating sources in the form of dual mode lasers, THz emitters, including nano-electrode-photomixers and uni-traveling carrier photodiode photomixers, and highly sensitive THz detectors, such as Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs). In this study, along with our recently obtained results that demonstrate the enhanced performance of these devices, we also present an example of a practical industrial application of our CW THz system: a nondestructive evaluation (NDE) system. The system described can be applied in the car manufacturing factory as an NDE technique to find process errors. Although further improvements to photonics-based THz technologies are necessary, we believe that efforts in this field will begin an era of THz technologies as a widely-used industrial technique.

Date Published: 5 March 2019
PDF
Proc. SPIE 10917, Terahertz, RF, Millimeter, and Submillimeter-Wave Technology and Applications XII, 109170D (5 March 2019); doi: 10.1117/12.2511230

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 10917:
Terahertz, RF, Millimeter, and Submillimeter-Wave Technology and Applications XII
Laurence P. Sadwick; Tianxin Yang, Editor(s)