Terahertz Imaging Technology System Analysis

Terahertz imaging technology utilizes electromagnetic waves in the frequency range of 0.1-10THz (wavelength of 30 μ m-3mm) to achieve non-destructive and high-precision material detection, combining microwave penetration and infrared resolution. It is known as one of the "top ten technologies that will change the future world". The following will elaborate on core features, technological breakthroughs, application scenarios, and cutting-edge trends:

I. Core physical characteristics and technological advantages

Safe and radiation free

Photon energy is only one thousandth of X-rays, which can directly irradiate biological tissues without damaging cells, achieving non-invasive imaging in vivo (such as direct eye detection).

Strong penetration ability

It can penetrate non-conductive materials such as ceramics, wood, and plastic, revealing internal structural defects (such as rust layer analysis of Sanxingdui bronze ware), but cannot penetrate metals and liquid water.

Super resolution advantage

Spatial resolution: Near field microscopy technology breaks through the diffraction limit and reaches the nanometer level (such as air plasma dynamic aperture technology).

Spectral sensitivity: Identify material molecular fingerprints (such as characteristic absorption peaks of drugs/explosives).

Compared to traditional imaging techniques:

Terahertz imaging, X-ray, infrared thermal imaging

Safety: No ionizing radiation, no radiation risk, no radiation

Penetrating materials, non-conductive materials (ceramic/plastic), metallic/skeletal parts, non-metallic

Resolution 0.1mm (far field) - nanometer (near field) millimeter level centimeter level

II. Key technological breakthroughs

Innovation in imaging speed

The plasma photoconductive focal plane array (>300000 nanometer antenna) achieves millisecond level full frame capture, which is 1000 times faster than traditional scanning.

Intelligent algorithm fusion

Compressed sensing imaging: Reduce sampling by 80% and reconstruct the contour of hidden objects.

Deep learning optimization: CNN network automatically recognizes tumor tissue (resolution 0.25mm).

3D tomography technology

Multi angle coherent detection to construct a three-dimensional model of the interior of an object (such as locating defects in integrated circuit leads).

III. Core application scenarios

Industrial non-destructive testing

Internal crack detection in composite materials (such as aircraft skin delamination)

Identification of virtual soldering of semiconductor wafer leads (accuracy ± 5 μ m)

Security check and counter-terrorism

Penetrating clothing detection tools, explosives (spatial resolution 0.1mm)

Rapid screening of mail drugs (feature spectrum matching rate>99%)

Biomedical diagnosis

Early skin cancer tissue identification (temperature sensitivity 0.1 ℃)

Three dimensional imaging of cochlear structure (without bone artifact interference)

Cultural relic protection

Non contact analysis of rust layer thickness and internal casting defects on bronze ware (application case of Sanxingdui)

IV. Future Evolution Direction

Multi modal collaboration

Combining X-ray and infrared thermal imaging to construct a dual-mode spectrum of material "structure function".

Miniaturization integration

Mobile compatible terahertz module (cost reduced to thousands of yuan).

Quantum enhanced detection

Superconducting nanowire single photon detector improves signal-to-noise ratio by 30dB.

Global coverage network

5G terahertz base stations enable real-time security monitoring of airports/mining areas.

This technology is moving from the laboratory to the billion dollar industrial market, and Chinese companies have entered the global "no man's land" in the localization of key components and near-field microscopy fields.