Picotronix Inc. will integrate the world's fastest photodetector with an equally fast optoelectronic sampling gate to develop the "Solid State Optical Temporal Analyzer with Picosecond Resolution and Picowatt Sensitivity." The combination of 1-ps response, 1-pW/Hz sensitivity, and 100 dB dynamic… More

THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROPOSAL IS TO DEVELOP A 1-PICOSECOND MONOLITHICALLY INTEGRATABLE PHOTODETECTOR WITH 0.2 A/W RESPONSIVITY FOR ULTIMATE USE AT 1600 NM. THE DETECTOR WILL RELY ON THE INTRISIC CARRIER LIFETIME OF THE SEMICONDUCTOR FOR ITS SPEED AND ON SUBMICROMETER-SPACED INTERDIGITATED FINGER… More

We are proposing a fundamental leap forwards in both technique and performance of measurement techniques for characterizing ultrahigh-speed electronic signals. We will design and build a laser-based oscilloscope for characterizing electrical signals in the picosecond time regime. The oscilloscope… More

The objective of this Phase I is to develop a novel 65-GHz bandwidth photodetector with high sensitivity between 900-1600 nm. This detector will have a response time of 5 ps, making it the fastest near-IR photodetector available. It will have a responsivity of 0.2 A/W and dark current < 50 nA, with… More

We propose to design, develop, and build the critical transmitter and receiver modules for a new class of spectroscopic systems that will operate in the 0.1-10 THz regime (3-333cm*-1 wavenumbers). This has traditionally been a very difficult spectral regime to access due to the lack of good sources… More

We propose to fabricate and characterize a new, freely-positionable voltage probe that has 2-ps temporal resolution and 200-nm spatial resolution. This probe will retrofit into a conventional scanning force microscope (SFM) environment. It will operate in imaging mode with the same functionality… More

We propose to design, develop, and build the critical transmitter and receiver modules for a new class of spectroscopic systems that will operate in the 0.1-10 THz regime (3-333cm*-1 wavenumbers). This has traditionally been a very difficult spectral regime to access due to the lack of good sources… More

We propose to fabricate and characterize a new, freely-positionable voltage probe that has 2-ps temporal resolution and 200-nm spatial resolution. This probe will retrofit into a conventional scanning force microscope (SFM) environment. It will operate in imaging mode with the same functionality… More

We propose to develop a continuous wave terahertz imaging spectrometer tunable from 0.2 to 3 THz in order to remotely detect, monitor and identify chemical and biological agents such as the aerosol simulant Bacillus subtillus. The fully realized systemwill consist of a high brightness THz source… More

We propose to develop the design for a terahertz imaging and spectroscopy inspection system prototype for the detection of concealed threats in packages and personnel. Terahertz imaging has the potential to reveal concealed explosives; metallic andnon-metallic weapons (such as ceramic, plastic or… More

We propose to develop a continuous wave terahertz interferometric imaging spectrometer tunable from 0.2 to 3 THz in order to remotely detect, monitor and identify concealed explosives such as C4 and RDX as well as metal weapons. The fully realized systemwill consist of a high brightness THz source… More

We propose to develop a continuous wave terahertz interferometric imaging spectrometer tunable from 0.2 to 3 THz in order to remotely detect concealed explosives and other weapons. The fully realized system will consist of a high brightness THz sourceilluminating the region of interest and detected… More

We propose to develop the design for a terahertz imaging and spectroscopy test bed system for the non -intrusive detection of chemical, biological, and radiological threats. Terahertz imaging has the potential to reveal concealed explosives, flammables,biological agents, chemical weapons, metallic… More

We propose to develop and construct a terahertz imaging and spectroscopy system capable of utilizing up to eight pairs of remote fiber coupled transmitters and receivers with simultaneous data acquisition. This system will enable the construction and testing of a linear array capable of high speed… More

We propose to develop a frequency domain terahertz dual beam spectrometry system tunable from 0.2 to 3 THz with resolution 25M) field detection systems and interferometric imagers to be configured from this technology in phase III.

In this Phase I STTR project, we propose to develop the critical innovations necessary for a high speed three dimesnional terahertz (THz) tomographic imaging system for aerospace non destructive evaluation (NDE) applcations. NASA and the Aerospace industry are beginning to utilize THz reflection… More

We propose to develop the design for a stand-off active terahertz imaging and spectroscopy system prototype for the detection of concealed threats at ranges up to 50 meters. Terahertz imaging has the potential to reveal concealed explosives; metallic and non-metallic weapons (such as ceramic,… More

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project proposes to develop the technological and theoretical foundation of a high-speed terahertz (THz) tomographic non-destructive evaluation (NDE) imaging system. It is proposed to construct and evaluate a multiple THz transmitter and… More

NASA and the aerospace industry are beginning to utilize terahertz (THz) reflection imaging (for example, examining the space shuttle external tank sprayed on foam insulation for voids and disbonds). THz non destructive evaluation (NDE) imaging is widely applicable to composite resin, ceramic,… More

We propose to prove the feasibility of using time domain terahertz (THz) non destructive evaluation (NDE) to inspect turbine blade thermal barrier coatings (TBC). High speed, non contact THz inspection will be useful both during the manufacturing process, during maintaince, and during recoating. … More

We propose to develop intereferometric imaging algorithms and a hardware architecture for a maritime millimeter-wave (mm-wave) imaging system with processing methods that can be implemented in real-time using hardware acceleration. We propose to extend the interferometric methods developed in the… More

We propose to prove the feasibility of a high speed non ionizing time domain terahertz (THz) measurement system to replace nuclear gauges. Nuclear source gauges (such as beta and gamma) are used in industrial process monitoring and control, often to measure thickness or mass in paper, plastics,… More

We propose to demonstrate the feasibility of using time domain Terahertz (THz) measurements to locate and identify defects such as delaminations and water intrusion in advanced composite materials used in ground based radome panels, shelters and towers. We will investigate the ability of terahertz… More

We propose to demonstrate the feasibility of a fiber optic coupled pulsed time domain terahertz (THz or T-Ray) instrument to measure aircraft specialty coatings during in-process curing. The method employed will be capable of measuring the complex dielectric constant and thickness of the coating… More

We propose to investigate the feasibility of using time domain terahertz (THz or T-Ray) imaging to detect and map aging of high temperature polymer matrix composites (HTPMCs) used in advanced aerospace structural systems. We will experimentally demonstrate the ability of T-Ray measurement and… More

We propose to demonstrate the feasibility of an compact optically driven high power time-domain terahertz (TD-THz) source with greater than 1 milliwatt average output at a repetition rate of approximately 50 MHz. This source will be compatible with conventional time domain terahertz spectroscopy… More

We propose a Phase II project to develop and prototype a flexible time-domain terahertz (TD-THz) instrument that can be marketed to customers currently utilizing nuclear source gauges. While nuclear gauges are an established technology, their radiological sources present on-going safety, security,… More

We propose to develop, test, and deliver a portable time domain terahertz (TD-THz) radome inspection system. This system will utilize the TD-THz detection methods, which were demonstrated in Phase I to identify water intrusion and delamination in radome panel composite structures. The system will… More

We propose to demonstrate the feasibility of a fiber optic coupled time-domain terahertz (TD-THz) instrument to measure the substrate step/gap mismatch dimensions of aircraft panel and doors after exterior coatings have been applied. Our concept instrument will be a hand-held, panel step/gap… More

We propose to demonstrate key elements of feasibility for a high speed automated time domain terahertz computed axial tomography (TD-THz CT) non destructive evaluation (NDE) system which would provide true three dimensional images of aerospace composite structures. Traditional time domain… More

We propose to develop and test a prototype TD-THz system and method for the non-contact, rapid, in-process cure monitoring of specialty material coatings. The instrumentation will determine the thickness and cure state both"dry"and"wet"coatings and predict final thickness… More

In phase II we will develop a prototype high power time domain terahertz (TD-THz) pulse source with a 1 milliwatt average output based on our Phase I approach. This source will be compatible with conventional time domain terahertz spectroscopy and imaging instrumentation, but extend the output power… More

In this Phase 2 project, we propose to develop, construct, and deliver to NASA a computed axial tomography time-domain terahertz (CT TD-THz) non destructive evaluation (NDE) system which will provide true three dimensional images of aerospace polymer, ceramic, and composite structures. Traditional… More

In this Phase I project, we will demonstrate the improvement of the time-domain-terahertz (TD-THz) transmitter output power of low temperature grown indium gallium arsenide (LT-InGaAs) based epitaxial layer structures excited by the 1060 nm lasers, such as that employed in the T-RayTM 4000 TD-THz… More

In this Phase I SBIR work, we propose to test the feasibility of enhancing a hand-held wand time-domain terahertz (TD-THz) based sensor with an additional suite of low cost sensor technologies to create a multi-sensor fusion based approach. The feasibility of TDTHz signature based anomaly detection… More

We propose to demonstrate key elements of feasibility for a single-sided time-domain terahertz reflection holographic tomographic imaging (TD-THz RHT) nondestructive evaluation (NDE) system which will provide high quality three dimensional images of the interior of complex aerospace composite… More

In phase II we will develop a prototype TD-THz step/gap mismatch measurement system. This system will be able to measure the sub-surface ground-plane step and gap dimensions on the seams of panels on the F-35 aircraft. In phase I, we demonstrated the ability of the TD-THz method to measure the… More

In this Phase II project, we propose to develop, construct, and deliver to NASA a prototype single-sided computed tomography time-domain terahertz (single-sided CT TD-THz) scanner accessory. This accessory will be suitable to be mounted onto a non-destructive evaluation (NDE) imaging gantry for the… More

Picometrix's time-domain terahertz (TD-THz) non-destructive evaluation (NDE) technology could be usedto inspect space flight structures such as inflatable space habitats, thermal protection systems (TUFI-typetiles, SOFI TPS), for voids, disbonds, and damage such as tearing and micron-meteorite… More

Picometrix's time-domain terahertz (TD-THz) non-destructive evaluation (NDE) technology could be used to inspect space flight structures such as inflatable space habitats, thermal protection systems (TUFI-type tiles, SOFI TPS), for voids, disbonds, and damage such as tearing and… More

In this Phase I SBIR project we propose to demonstrate the key elements of a practical, field-deployable non-contact time-domain terahertz (TD-THz) system for rapid detection of submarine hull defects such as corrosion and gouges hidden beneath acoustic hull coatings, hull coating material defects,… More