We investigate two approaches to improving the resolution of time-reversal based THz imaging systems. First, we show that a substantial improvement in the reconstruction of time-reversed THz fields is achieved by increasing the system’s numerical aperture via a waveguide technique adapted from ultrasound imaging. Second, a model-based reconstruction algorithm is developed as an alternative to time-reversal THz imaging and its performance is demonstrated for cases with and without a waveguide.

© 2009 OSA

1. D. M. Mittleman, M. Gupta, R. Neelamani, R. G. Baraniuk, J. V. Rudd, and M. Koch, “Recent advances in terahertz imaging,” Appl. Phys. B 68(6), 1085–1094 (1999). [CrossRef]
2. A. B. Ruffin, J. Van Rudd, J. Decker, L. Sanchez-Palencia, L. Le Hors, J. F. Whitaker, and T. B. Norris, “Time Reversal Terahertz Imaging,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 38(8), 1110–1119 (2002). [CrossRef]
3. T. Buma and T. B. Norris, “Time reversal three-dimensional imaging using single-cycle terahertz pulses,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 84(12), 2196–2198 (2004). [CrossRef]
4. P. Roux, B. Roman, and M. Fink, “Time-reversal in an ultrasonic waveguide,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 70(14), 1811–1813 (1997). [CrossRef]
5. J. A. Fessler, “Penalized weighted least-squares image reconstruction for positron emission tomography,” IEEE Trans. Med. Imaging 13(2), 290–300 (1994). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
6. Y. Cai, I. Brener, J. Lopata, J. Wynn, L. Pfeiffer, J. B. Stark, Q. Wu, X. C. Zhang, and J. F. Federici, “Coherent terahertz radiation detection: Direct comparison between free-space electro-optic sampling and antenna detection,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 73(4), 444–446 (1998). [CrossRef]
7. Z. Jiang and X.-C. Zhang, “2D measurement and spatio-temporal coupling of few-cycle THz pulses,” Opt. Express 5(11), 243–248 (1999). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Appl. Phys. B

• D. M. Mittleman, M. Gupta, R. Neelamani, R. G. Baraniuk, J. V. Rudd, and M. Koch, “Recent advances in terahertz imaging,” Appl. Phys. B 68(6), 1085–1094 (1999). [CrossRef]

Appl. Phys. Lett.

• T. Buma and T. B. Norris, “Time reversal three-dimensional imaging using single-cycle terahertz pulses,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 84(12), 2196–2198 (2004). [CrossRef]
• P. Roux, B. Roman, and M. Fink, “Time-reversal in an ultrasonic waveguide,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 70(14), 1811–1813 (1997). [CrossRef]
• Y. Cai, I. Brener, J. Lopata, J. Wynn, L. Pfeiffer, J. B. Stark, Q. Wu, X. C. Zhang, and J. F. Federici, “Coherent terahertz radiation detection: Direct comparison between free-space electro-optic sampling and antenna detection,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 73(4), 444–446 (1998). [CrossRef]

IEEE J. Quantum Electron.

• A. B. Ruffin, J. Van Rudd, J. Decker, L. Sanchez-Palencia, L. Le Hors, J. F. Whitaker, and T. B. Norris, “Time Reversal Terahertz Imaging,” IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 38(8), 1110–1119 (2002). [CrossRef]

IEEE Trans. Med. Imaging

• J. A. Fessler, “Penalized weighted least-squares image reconstruction for positron emission tomography,” IEEE Trans. Med. Imaging 13(2), 290–300 (1994). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Express

• Z. Jiang and X.-C. Zhang, “2D measurement and spatio-temporal coupling of few-cycle THz pulses,” Opt. Express 5(11), 243–248 (1999). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

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