Fumiaki Miyamaru

Noninvasive Inspection of C-4 Explosive in Mails by Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy

We have measured the refractive index, extinction coefficient, and absorption coefficient of the explosive C-4 by THz time-domain spectroscopy and examined its applicability to detecting C-4 in mails. The explosive C-4, which is used in almost all mail-bomb terrorist activities, shows six THz bands in the frequency region from 5 to 90 cm-1 (150 GHz–2.7 THz). The 26.9 cm-1 band is very strong and can be used as a fingerprint of C-4. We confirmed that the THz absorption spectrum of C-4 hidden inside an envelope coincides essentially with that of C-4 itself. We also examined the applicability of the THz reflection spectroscopy to C-4 detection by calculating the reflectance spectra. Our results demonstrate that the THz techniques are very promising for counterterrorism against C-4 mail bombs.

Terahertz sensing method for protein detection using a thin metallic mesh

A label-free biological sensor, which is based on the resonant transmission phenomenon of a thin metallic mesh, is proposed in the terahertz wave region. By using this sensor, we demonstrate the highly sensitive detection of small amounts of protein horseradish peroxidase. For quantitative investigation of the sensitivity of our sensor, horseradish peroxidase was printed on the metallic mesh surface by using a commercial available printer. A distinct shift of the transmission dip frequency is observed for 500pg∕mm2 (11fmol) of horseradish peroxidase printed on the metallic mesh, indicating the significantly high sensitivity of our sensor.

Terahertz absorption spectra of L-, D-, and DL-alanine and their application to determination of enantiometric composition

Absorption spectra of polycrystalline L-, D-, and DL-alanine have been measured by the terahertz time domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) in the frequency range from 10to90cm−1 at room temperature. We observed several absorption bands, which have the large difference between enantiomers (L- and D-alanine) and the racemic compound (DL-alanine) in their peak frequencies. This obvious difference shows that the THz absorption bands are strikingly sensitive to the crystal structures. This result indicates that the THz-TDS can be used for distinguishing between the enantiomers and the racemic compound. We propose and demonstrate a method to determine the enantiometric composition of amino acids from the THz absorption spectra.

Control of enhanced THz transmission through metallic hole arrays using nematic liquid crystal

We demonstrate frequency tuning of enhanced THz radiation transmitted through a two-dimensional metallic hole array (2D-MHA) by controlling the index of refraction of the medium filling the holes and adjacent to the 2D-MHA on one side. The medium is a nematic liquid crystal (NLC) and its index of refraction is varied using magnetically controlled birefringence of the NLC. With the NLC, the peak transmission frequency of the 2D-MHA shift to the red by 0.112 THz and can be tuned from 0.193 to 0.188 THz. The peak transmittance is as high as 70% or an enhancement of 2.42 times, considering the porosity of the 2D-MHA. As a tunable THz filter, this device exhibits a continuous tuning range of 4.7 GHz , a low insertion loss of 2.35 to 1.55 dB and a quality factor of ~ 4-5.

Finite size effect of transmission property for metal hole arrays in subterahertz region

The mechanism of the high band-pass transmission property of metal hole arrays (MHA), which is metal slabs perforated periodically with circular holes, in the subterahertz (sub-THz) wave region has been investigated. We measured the transmission spectra varying the number of holes using a THz time domain spectroscopy and observed that the peak transmittance normalized by the porosity of holes increases with increasing the number of holes. This finite size effect of the transmission characteristics of the MHA is attributed to the increase of the coupling efficiency between the incident THz wave and the surface mode excited on the MHA surface with increasing the number of holes.

Terahertz surface-wave resonant sensor with a metal hole array

A surface-wave sensor based on the resonant transmission characteristics of metal hole arrays is demonstrated in the terahertz (THz) region. Since the frequency of the transmission peak of a metal hole array, which corresponds to the resonant frequency of the surface waves, is particularly sensitive to the refractive index in the vicinity of the metal surface, a very small change in the substances attached to the surface can be detected by monitoring the transmission spectrum. By attaching a layer of substance (thickness t < 5 microm) much thinner than the wavelength of the THz wave (lambda(THz) = 1 mm at 0.3 THz) to the surface of a metal hole array, we demonstrated that the existence of such a small amount of substance can be detected more easily than without the metal hole array. This demonstration of THz sensing with metal hole arrays indicates the possibility of realizing THz surface-wave sensors for biochemical molecules in the THz region.

Effect of a thin dielectric layer on terahertz transmission characteristics for metal hole arrays.

We studied the role of surface-plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in a bandpass transmission property of two-dimensional metal hole arrays (2D-MHAs) by investigating the effect of thin dielectric layers on the 2D-MHA surfaces. We measured zero-order transmission spectra of the 2D-MHAs by changing the thickness of the dielectric layer and found that the bandpass transmission peak shifted to the lower-frequency side with increasing layer thickness, owing to the change of the resonant frequency of the SPP. This result shows that SPPs play a crucial role in the transmission property of 2D-MHAs in the terahertz region.

Large polarization change in two-dimensional metallic photonic crystals in subterahertz region

Interesting polarization characteristics of two-dimensional metallic photonic crystals (2D-MPC) in the subterahertz region have been found. We measured the temporal wave form of the THz wave transmitted thorough the 2D-MPC using a THz time domain spectroscopic system. The linear polarization of the incident THz wave transmitted through the 2D-MPC becomes elliptical with a slight tilting of the incident angle from the normal incidence. This result indicates that the 2D-MPC behaves not only as a band-pass filter already reported, but also as a wave plate. This large polarization change is attributed to the strong TE–TM polarization mixing in the 2D-MPC.

Terahertz pulsed imaging of frozen biological tissues

Recently, terahertz (THz) wave imaging has been shown to have potential in medical and biological applications. However, absorption by liquid water in tissues hinders the measurement of thick samples. In this study, porcine tissue was frozen to temperatures below −33 °C to prevent this absorption. Consequently, the striated muscle and adipose tissue could be clearly distinguished in the THz time-domain spectra owing to the difference in absorbance values and refractive indices. We demonstrated two-dimensional map of absorbance and THz pulse delay which clearly shows the spatial distribution of the tissues.

Ultrafast optical control of group delay of narrow-band terahertz waves

We experimentally demonstrate control over the group delay of narrow-band (quasi continuous wave) terahertz (THz) pulses with constant amplitude based on optical switching of a metasurface characteristic. The near-field coupling between resonant modes of a complementary split ring resonator pair and a rectangular slit show an electromagnetically induced transparency-like (EIT-like) spectral shape in the reflection spectrum of a metasurface. This coupling induces group delay of a narrow-band THz pulse around the resonant frequency of the EIT-like spectrum. By irradiating the metasurface with an optical excitation pulse, the metasurface becomes mirror-like and thus the incident narrow-band THz pulse is reflected without a delay. Remarkably, if we select the appropriate excitation power, only the group delay of the narrow-band THz pulse can be switched while the amplitude is maintained before and after optical excitation.