Terahertz confocal microscopy with a quantum cascade laser source

doi:10.1364/OE.20.021924

Terahertz confocal microscopy with a quantum cascade laser source

Ugo Siciliani de Cumis, Ji-Hua Xu, Luca Masini, Riccardo Degl’Innocenti, Pasqualantonio Pingue, Fabio Beltram, Alessandro Tredicucci, Miriam S. Vitiello, Pier Alberto Benedetti, Harvey E. Beere, and David A. Ritchie »View Author Affiliations

Optics Express, Vol. 20, Issue 20, pp. 21924-21931 (2012)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.20.021924

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Abstract
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Abstract

We report on the implementation of a confocal microscopy system based on a 2.9 THz quantum cascade laser source. Lateral and axial resolutions better than 70 μm and 400 μm, respectively, are achieved, with a large contrast enhancement compared to the non-confocal arrangement. The capability of resolving overlapping objects lying on different longitudinal planes is also clearly demonstrated.

OCIS Codes
(180.1790) Microscopy : Confocal microscopy
(140.5965) Lasers and laser optics : Semiconductor lasers, quantum cascade
(110.6795) Imaging systems : Terahertz imaging

ToC Category:
Microscopy

History
Original Manuscript: June 15, 2012
Revised Manuscript: August 10, 2012
Manuscript Accepted: August 15, 2012
Published: September 10, 2012

Virtual Issues
Vol. 7, Iss. 11 Virtual Journal for Biomedical Optics

Citation
Ugo Siciliani de Cumis, Ji-Hua Xu, Luca Masini, Riccardo Degl’Innocenti, Pasqualantonio Pingue, Fabio Beltram, Alessandro Tredicucci, Miriam S. Vitiello, Pier Alberto Benedetti, Harvey E. Beere, and David A. Ritchie, "Terahertz confocal microscopy with a quantum cascade laser source," Opt. Express 20, 21924-21931 (2012)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/vjbo/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-20-20-21924

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References

M. Tonouchi, “Cutting-edge terahertz technology,” Nat. Photonics1, 97–105 (2007) [CrossRef]
Y. Lee, Principles of Terahertz Science and Technology (Springer, 2009).
W. Chan, J. Deibel, and D. Mittleman, “Imaging with terahertz radiation,” Rep. Prog. Phys.70, 1325–1379 (2007). [CrossRef]
A. Fitzgerald, V. Wallace, M. Jimenez-Linan, L. Bobrow, R. Pye, A. Purushotham, and D. Arnone, “Terahertz pulsed imaging of human breast tumors,” Radiology239, 533–540 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
B. Hu and M. Nuss, “Imaging with terahertz waves,” Opt. Lett.20, 1716–1718 (1995). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
B. Ferguson and X. Zhang, “Materials for terahertz science and technology,” Nat. Mater.1, 26–33 (2002). [CrossRef]
D. Arnone, C. Ciesla, and M. Pepper, “Terahertz imaging comes into view,” Phys. World4, 35–40 (2000).
D. Mittleman, R. Jacobsen, and M. Nuss, “T-ray imaging,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron.2, 679–692 (1996). [CrossRef]
D. Mittleman, M. Gupta, R. Neelamani, R. Baraniuk, J. Rudd, and M. Koch, “Recent advances in terahertz imaging,” Appl. Phys. B-Lasers O.68, 1085–1094 (1999). [CrossRef]
V. Wallace, E. MacPherson, J. Zeitler, and C. Reid, “Three-dimensional imaging of optically opaque materials using nonionizing terahertz radiation,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. A25, 3120–3133 (2008). [CrossRef]
J. Zeitler, P. Taday, D. Newnham, M. Pepper, K. Gordon, and T. Rades, “Terahertz pulsed spectroscopy and imaging in the pharmaceutical setting-a review,” J. Pharm. Pharmacol.59, 209–223 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
J. Zeitler, Y. Shen, C. Baker, P. Taday, M. Pepper, and T. Rades, “Analysis of coating structures and interfaces in solid oral dosage forms by three dimensional terahertz pulsed imaging,” J. Pharm. Sci.96, 330–340 (2007). [CrossRef]
I. Sinka, S. Burch, J. Tweed, and J. Cunningham, “Measurement of density variations in tablets using x-ray computed tomography,” Int. J. Pharm.271, 215–224 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
M. Minsky, “Memoir on inventing the confocal scanning microscope,” Scanning10, 128–138 (1988). [CrossRef]
T. Corle and G. Kino, Confocal Scanning Optical Microscopy and Related Imaging Systems (Academic Press, 1996).
R. Webb, “Confocal optical microscopy,” Rep. Prog.Phys.59, 427–471 (1996). [CrossRef]
N. Zinovev and A. Andrianov, “Confocal terahertz imaging,” Appl. Phys. Lett.95, 011114 (2009). [CrossRef]
M. Salhi, I. Pupeza, and M. Koch, “Confocal thz laser microscope,” J. Infrared Millim. Te.31, 358–366 (2010).
R. Köhler, A. Tredicucci, F. Beltram, H. Beere, E. Linfield, A. Davies, D. Ritchie, R. Iotti, and F. Rossi, “Terahertz semiconductor-heterostructure laser,” Nature417, 156–159 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
R. Degl’Innocenti, M. Montinaro, J. Xu, V. Piazza, P. Pingue, A. Tredicucci, F. Beltram, H. E. Beere, and D. A. Ritchie, “Differential Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopy with THz quantum cascade laser sources,” Opt. Express17, 23785–23792 (2009). [CrossRef]
T. Losco, J. Xu, R. Green, A. Tredicucci, H. E. Beere, and D. A. Ritchie, “Thz quantum cascade designs for optimized injection,” Physica E40, 2207 – 2209 (2008). [CrossRef]
A. Siegman, M. Sasnett, and T. Johnston, “Choice of clip levels for beam width measurements using knife-edge techniques,” IEEE J. Quantum Elect.27, 1098–1104 (1991). [CrossRef]
G. Xu, R. Colombelli, S. P. Khanna, A. Belarouci, X. Letartre, L. Li, E. H. Linfield, A. G. Davies, H. E. Beere, and D. A. Ritchie, “Efficient power extraction in surface-emitting semiconductor lasers using graded photonic heterostructures,” Nature Commun.3, 952 (2012). [CrossRef]

Appl. Phys. B-Lasers O.

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

Appl. Phys. Lett.

N. Zinovev and A. Andrianov, “Confocal terahertz imaging,” Appl. Phys. Lett.95, 011114 (2009). [CrossRef]

IEEE J. Quantum Elect.

A. Siegman, M. Sasnett, and T. Johnston, “Choice of clip levels for beam width measurements using knife-edge techniques,” IEEE J. Quantum Elect.27, 1098–1104 (1991). [CrossRef]

IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron.

D. Mittleman, R. Jacobsen, and M. Nuss, “T-ray imaging,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron.2, 679–692 (1996). [CrossRef]

Int. J. Pharm.

I. Sinka, S. Burch, J. Tweed, and J. Cunningham, “Measurement of density variations in tablets using x-ray computed tomography,” Int. J. Pharm.271, 215–224 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

J. Infrared Millim. Te.

M. Salhi, I. Pupeza, and M. Koch, “Confocal thz laser microscope,” J. Infrared Millim. Te.31, 358–366 (2010).

J. Opt. Soc. Am. A

V. Wallace, E. MacPherson, J. Zeitler, and C. Reid, “Three-dimensional imaging of optically opaque materials using nonionizing terahertz radiation,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. A25, 3120–3133 (2008). [CrossRef]

J. Pharm. Pharmacol.

J. Zeitler, P. Taday, D. Newnham, M. Pepper, K. Gordon, and T. Rades, “Terahertz pulsed spectroscopy and imaging in the pharmaceutical setting-a review,” J. Pharm. Pharmacol.59, 209–223 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

J. Pharm. Sci.

J. Zeitler, Y. Shen, C. Baker, P. Taday, M. Pepper, and T. Rades, “Analysis of coating structures and interfaces in solid oral dosage forms by three dimensional terahertz pulsed imaging,” J. Pharm. Sci.96, 330–340 (2007). [CrossRef]

Nat. Mater.

B. Ferguson and X. Zhang, “Materials for terahertz science and technology,” Nat. Mater.1, 26–33 (2002). [CrossRef]

Nat. Photonics

M. Tonouchi, “Cutting-edge terahertz technology,” Nat. Photonics1, 97–105 (2007) [CrossRef]

Nature

R. Köhler, A. Tredicucci, F. Beltram, H. Beere, E. Linfield, A. Davies, D. Ritchie, R. Iotti, and F. Rossi, “Terahertz semiconductor-heterostructure laser,” Nature417, 156–159 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Nature Commun.

G. Xu, R. Colombelli, S. P. Khanna, A. Belarouci, X. Letartre, L. Li, E. H. Linfield, A. G. Davies, H. E. Beere, and D. A. Ritchie, “Efficient power extraction in surface-emitting semiconductor lasers using graded photonic heterostructures,” Nature Commun.3, 952 (2012). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

R. Degl’Innocenti, M. Montinaro, J. Xu, V. Piazza, P. Pingue, A. Tredicucci, F. Beltram, H. E. Beere, and D. A. Ritchie, “Differential Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopy with THz quantum cascade laser sources,” Opt. Express17, 23785–23792 (2009). [CrossRef]

Opt. Lett.

B. Hu and M. Nuss, “Imaging with terahertz waves,” Opt. Lett.20, 1716–1718 (1995). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Phys. World

D. Arnone, C. Ciesla, and M. Pepper, “Terahertz imaging comes into view,” Phys. World4, 35–40 (2000).

Physica E

T. Losco, J. Xu, R. Green, A. Tredicucci, H. E. Beere, and D. A. Ritchie, “Thz quantum cascade designs for optimized injection,” Physica E40, 2207 – 2209 (2008). [CrossRef]

Radiology

A. Fitzgerald, V. Wallace, M. Jimenez-Linan, L. Bobrow, R. Pye, A. Purushotham, and D. Arnone, “Terahertz pulsed imaging of human breast tumors,” Radiology239, 533–540 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Rep. Prog. Phys.

W. Chan, J. Deibel, and D. Mittleman, “Imaging with terahertz radiation,” Rep. Prog. Phys.70, 1325–1379 (2007). [CrossRef]

Rep. Prog.Phys.

R. Webb, “Confocal optical microscopy,” Rep. Prog.Phys.59, 427–471 (1996). [CrossRef]

Scanning

M. Minsky, “Memoir on inventing the confocal scanning microscope,” Scanning10, 128–138 (1988). [CrossRef]

Other

T. Corle and G. Kino, Confocal Scanning Optical Microscopy and Related Imaging Systems (Academic Press, 1996).
Y. Lee, Principles of Terahertz Science and Technology (Springer, 2009).

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[1] M. Tonouchi, “Cutting-edge terahertz technology,” Nat. Photonics1, 97–105 (2007) [CrossRef]

[2] Y. Lee, Principles of Terahertz Science and Technology (Springer, 2009).

[3] W. Chan, J. Deibel, and D. Mittleman, “Imaging with terahertz radiation,” Rep. Prog. Phys.70, 1325–1379 (2007). [CrossRef]

[4] A. Fitzgerald, V. Wallace, M. Jimenez-Linan, L. Bobrow, R. Pye, A. Purushotham, and D. Arnone, “Terahertz pulsed imaging of human breast tumors,” Radiology239, 533–540 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

[5] B. Hu and M. Nuss, “Imaging with terahertz waves,” Opt. Lett.20, 1716–1718 (1995). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

[6] B. Ferguson and X. Zhang, “Materials for terahertz science and technology,” Nat. Mater.1, 26–33 (2002). [CrossRef]

[7] D. Arnone, C. Ciesla, and M. Pepper, “Terahertz imaging comes into view,” Phys. World4, 35–40 (2000).

[8] D. Mittleman, R. Jacobsen, and M. Nuss, “T-ray imaging,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron.2, 679–692 (1996). [CrossRef]

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

[10] V. Wallace, E. MacPherson, J. Zeitler, and C. Reid, “Three-dimensional imaging of optically opaque materials using nonionizing terahertz radiation,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. A25, 3120–3133 (2008). [CrossRef]

[11] J. Zeitler, P. Taday, D. Newnham, M. Pepper, K. Gordon, and T. Rades, “Terahertz pulsed spectroscopy and imaging in the pharmaceutical setting-a review,” J. Pharm. Pharmacol.59, 209–223 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

[12] J. Zeitler, Y. Shen, C. Baker, P. Taday, M. Pepper, and T. Rades, “Analysis of coating structures and interfaces in solid oral dosage forms by three dimensional terahertz pulsed imaging,” J. Pharm. Sci.96, 330–340 (2007). [CrossRef]

[13] I. Sinka, S. Burch, J. Tweed, and J. Cunningham, “Measurement of density variations in tablets using x-ray computed tomography,” Int. J. Pharm.271, 215–224 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

[14] M. Minsky, “Memoir on inventing the confocal scanning microscope,” Scanning10, 128–138 (1988). [CrossRef]

[15] T. Corle and G. Kino, Confocal Scanning Optical Microscopy and Related Imaging Systems (Academic Press, 1996).

[16] R. Webb, “Confocal optical microscopy,” Rep. Prog.Phys.59, 427–471 (1996). [CrossRef]

[17] N. Zinovev and A. Andrianov, “Confocal terahertz imaging,” Appl. Phys. Lett.95, 011114 (2009). [CrossRef]

[18] M. Salhi, I. Pupeza, and M. Koch, “Confocal thz laser microscope,” J. Infrared Millim. Te.31, 358–366 (2010).

[19] R. Köhler, A. Tredicucci, F. Beltram, H. Beere, E. Linfield, A. Davies, D. Ritchie, R. Iotti, and F. Rossi, “Terahertz semiconductor-heterostructure laser,” Nature417, 156–159 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

[20] R. Degl’Innocenti, M. Montinaro, J. Xu, V. Piazza, P. Pingue, A. Tredicucci, F. Beltram, H. E. Beere, and D. A. Ritchie, “Differential Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopy with THz quantum cascade laser sources,” Opt. Express17, 23785–23792 (2009). [CrossRef]

[21] T. Losco, J. Xu, R. Green, A. Tredicucci, H. E. Beere, and D. A. Ritchie, “Thz quantum cascade designs for optimized injection,” Physica E40, 2207 – 2209 (2008). [CrossRef]

[22] A. Siegman, M. Sasnett, and T. Johnston, “Choice of clip levels for beam width measurements using knife-edge techniques,” IEEE J. Quantum Elect.27, 1098–1104 (1991). [CrossRef]

[23] G. Xu, R. Colombelli, S. P. Khanna, A. Belarouci, X. Letartre, L. Li, E. H. Linfield, A. G. Davies, H. E. Beere, and D. A. Ritchie, “Efficient power extraction in surface-emitting semiconductor lasers using graded photonic heterostructures,” Nature Commun.3, 952 (2012). [CrossRef]

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Terahertz confocal microscopy with a quantum cascade laser source