Jeffrey S. White

Technology and Applications of Terahertz Imaging Non‐Destructive Examination: Inspection of Space Shuttle Sprayed On Foam Insulation

The implementation of terahertz (THz) imaging for non‐destructive evaluation shows great promise in 2 and 3 dimensional non‐contact inspection of non‐conductive materials such as plastics, foam, composites, ceramics, paper, wood and glass. THz imaging employs safe low power non‐ionizing electromagnetic pulses, which produce images with lateral resolution <200 microns, and depth resolution <50 microns. We demonstrate the detection of voids and disbonds intentionally incorporated within the sprayed on foam insulation of a space shuttle external tank mock‐up segment using time domain THz imaging. Recently, highly integrated turn‐key THz imaging systems have been introduced commercially. An industrially hardened THz scanning system which has been deployed to scan the space shuttle tank with small remote THz transceiver on a 30 meter fiber optic umbilical, is described.

Terahertz reflection imaging for package and personnel inspection

Terahertz imaging has the potential to reveal concealed explosives; metallic and non-metallic weapons (such as ceramic, plastic or composite guns and knives); flammables; biological agents; chemical weapons and other threats hidden in packages or on personnel. Because terahertz imaging employs safe non-ionizing radiation that penetrates clothing, people may be routinely scanned as well as packages. Time domain terahertz imaging can be employed in reflection mode to image beneath clothing with sub millimeter resolution. Fiber optic coupled terahertz transmitter and generator arrays can be constructed to more quickly objects such as shoes, or larger portions of the body. The application of commercially available time domain terahertz spectroscopy equipment to imaging through clothing on simulant personnel is shown to distinguish harmful from innocuous objects.

Time domain terahertz non destructive evaluation of water intrusion in composites and corrosion under insulation

Time domain terahertz (a.k.a. T-Ray or THz) imaging is used to detect water intrusion and delamination in composite structures used in radomes. Corrosion is detected on pipes beneath opaque insulation.

Security and non destructive evaluation application of high speed time domain terahertz imaging

We report on the application of a transmission and reflection reconfigurable large area time domain terahertz imager capable of imaging 1 square meter in Lt 100 minutes at 100 pixels/sec to homeland security and non-destructive evaluation.

Online terahertz thickness measurement in films and coatings

Pulsed terahertz systems are currently being deployed for online process control and quality control of multi-layered products for use in the building products and aerospace industries. While many laboratory applications of terahertz can allow waveforms to be acquired at rates of 1 – 40 Hz, online applications require measurement rates of in excess of 100Hz. The existing technologies of thickness measurement (nuclear, x-ray, or laser gauges) have rates between 100 and 1000 Hz. At these rates, the single waveform bandwidth must still remain at 2THz or above to allow thinner layers to be measured. In the applications where terahertz can provide unique capability (e.g. multi-layer thickness, delamination, density) long-term stability must be guaranteed within the tolerance required by the measurement. This can mean multi-day stability of less than a micron. The software that runs on these systems must be flexible enough to allow multiple product configurations, while maintaining the simplicity required by plant operators. The final requirement is to have systems that can withstand the environmental conditions of the measurement. This might mean qualification in explosive environments, or operation in hot, wet or dusty environments. All of these requirements can put restrictions on not only the voltage of electronic circuitry used, but also the wavelength and optical power used for the transmitter and receiver. The application of terahertz systems to online process control presents unique challenges that not only effect the physical design of the system, but can also effect the choices made on the terahertz technology itself.

Time Domain Terahertz (T‐Ray) Subsurface and Structural Imaging

The technology, methods, and examples of high speed time domain terahertz (T‐Ray) imaging non‐destructive examination (NDE) for 2 and 3 dimensional structural and material content characterization are discussed. T‐Ray imaging can be utilized for non‐contact transmission and/or monostatic reflection inspection of non‐conductive materials such as plastics, foam, composites, ceramics, paper, wood and glass. Example subsurface homeland security images of concealed items in baggage and on personnel are shown. We tabulate attenuation and penetration characteristics through a selection of building materials, and demonstrate the ability of T‐ray instrumentation to sub‐surface image building structures such as wall framing and interior wiring and conduits.