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Terahertz rays

Basics


Current situation

Terahertz rays (T-rays) is a unique type of electromagnetic radiation (wavelengths that lie between 30 μm and 1 mm), which are practically not used by human civilization. Existing T-rays devices typically use single-pixel detectors, which require ultra-low temperatures of liquid helium. Such T-ray instruments are typically very large, difficult to use, very specialized for a specific narrow applications, and prohibitively expensive.

At the same time, the use of terahertz and sub-terahertz rays is extremely challenging, because this type of electromagnetic radiation is safe, non-destructing and much more informative due to quite active and specific absorption by various substances, cells and tissues. T-rays are non-ionizing, able to penetrate clothing and many other opaque materials, selectively absorbed by water and organic substances. These unique qualities make T-rays potentially much more interesting and informative than X-rays and near infrared radiation (NIR).

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During many years there are a lot of speculations about this opportunity, but no serious success was achieved yet. Large companies and organizations already
invested billions of dollars to create sources and detectors of T-rays, but still there is no easy-to-manufacture device, which would be compact,
inexpensive, convenient and applicable for use in everyday life. No universal T-rays imaging devices for common use were created by other companies.

Our invention

As a result of fundamental research in the field of solid state physics, we created a revolutionary patent protecting T-rays passive semiconductor detector, which is suitable for 0.1-0.8 THz frequencies, very small in size (just a few tenths of millimeter) and fully compatible with existing GaAs or Si based chips manufacturing technologies.

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Simultaneous creation of a number of such adjacent detectors can easily form the array of sensors, which could be used as an imaging matrix, with straightforward use of well-developed CMOS technology for fast interrogating of all THz "pixels". Thus, these detectors can be combined in a matrix of 32 x 32, 100 x 100 or 300 x 300 "pixels" to be used as imaging chips, just like regular CCD matrixes in photo and video cameras, but for T-rays.

These Terasense® imaging matrixes operate at room temperatures with unprecedented signal/noise characteristics among the competitive solutions. In addition, the manufacturing of such matrixes is very inexpensive and can be afforded by virtually any factory, which produces various semiconductor components and chips.

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Using Terasense® imaging chips, very compact and sensitive T-ray camera can be produced. It is essential, that spatial resolution of such a matrix is less than 0.5 mm and registration time is less than 1 second. That makes possible to effectively use Terasense® imaging chips for medical diagnostics, non-destructive testing and many other applications.

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Figure - the model for compact T-Ray camera prototype

 

Sources of T-rays

We use proprietary IMPATT sources of terahertz radiation for imaging. The images for registration of a focused IMPATT single
source rays are presented on the picture below:

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Current Terasense® imaging chips production

Proprietary Terasense® imaging chips production consists of several steps. These lithographic steps are conducted in a special clean room conditions. Clean room is an environment that has a low level of environmental pollutants such as dust, airborne microbes and chemical vapors.

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Prospectives

We have a unique R&D capabilities, which allow us to forecast the substantial growth of sensitivity of Terasense® registration method, as well as the possibility to integrate the amplification and analog-digital conversion on the same chip, which would allow us to increase the number of pixels and simplify the serial production of such chips and related devices.

Conclusion

Commercialization of Terasense® technologies could lead to creation revolutionary applications for T-rays in various areas of industry, medicine and human life. The Company is targeting to become OEM manufacturer of the components for new generation of terahertz devices.

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