Yuichi Ogawa

Non-destructive terahertz imaging of illicit drugs using spectral fingerprints

The absence of non-destructive inspection techniques for illicit drugs hidden in mail envelopes has resulted in such drugs being smuggled across international borders freely. We have developed a novel basic technology for terahertz imaging, which allows detection and identification of drugs concealed in envelopes, by introducing the component spatial pattern analysis. The spatial distributions of the targets are obtained from terahertz multispectral transillumination images, using absorption spectra measured with a tunable terahertz-wave source. The samples we used were methamphetamine and MDMA, two of the most widely consumed illegal drugs in Japan, and aspirin as a reference.

Terahertz spectroscopy for art conservation

Terahertz spectroscopy has rapidly progressed, and is being applied to various research fields as a new non-invasive examination method. Scientific analysis is important for the conservation of art, as it can help to reveal the history of a work and to determine the proper materials for its restoration. Mid-infrared spectroscopy and X-ray analysis are currently used to identify organic and inorganic materials, respectively. Terahertz spectroscopy is expected to identify composites themselves, and to give clear and direct information for art conservation. We have collected terahertz spectra of various historical and modern materials, and found that terahertz spectroscopy can distinguish the pigments, binders and their mixtures. The experimental results prove that terahertz spectroscopy as a new non-invasive examination method can contribute to art history and to restorations. The material database can also contribute to other fields such as earth science, the printing industry, and the food and pharmaceutical research fields.

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 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.

Terahertz parametric sources and imaging applications

We have studied the generation of terahertz (THz) waves by optical parametric processes based on laser light scattering from the polariton mode of nonlinear crystals. Using parametric oscillation of LiNbO3 or MgO-doped LiNbO3 crystal pumped by a nano-second Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, we have realized a widely tunable coherent THz-wave source with a simple configuration. We report the detailed characteristics of the oscillation and the radiation including tunability, spatial and temporal coherency, uni-directivity, and efficiency. A Fourier transform limited THz-wave spectrum narrowing was achieved by introducing the injection seeding method. Further, we have developed a spectroscopic THz imaging system using a THz-wave parametric oscillator, which allows detection and identification of drugs concealed in envelopes, by introducing the component spatial pattern analysis. Several images of the envelope are recorded at different THz frequencies and then processed. The final result is an image that reveals what substances are present in the envelope, in what quantity, and how they are distributed across the envelope area. The example presented here shows the identification of three drugs, two of which are illegal, while one is an over-the-counter drug.

Application of terahertz spectroscopy for character recognition in a medieval manuscript

Terahertz (THz) technology is a focus of attention in research on applied optics. We have applied THz spectroscopy and THz-imaging method to text recognition of a medieval manuscript made from sheepskin. Based on the database which contains more than 200 spectra of art materials, the red ink on the manuscript was estimated as Cinnabar. The red ink text and stains on the text were successfully distinguished by the THz-Time Domain Spectroscopy (TDS) imaging with a component spatial pattern analysis. THz spectroscopy can be used as a non-invasive analysis method for conservation science of cultural properties.

Interference terahertz label-free imaging for protein detection on a membrane

We demonstrate a highly sensitive imaging method combined a terahertz time-domain spectroscopy and an interference effect for label-free protein detection on a polyvinylidene difluoride membrane. The method is based on terahertz time-domain spectroscopy and uses an interference effect. Biotin is linked to the membrane using poly ethylene glycol or poly ethylene glycol methyl ether to prevent it from being washed off. Binding of the biotin with streptavidin is then observed by measuring the terahertz signal change due to the variation of the membrane refractive index. We demonstrate the detection of the binding streptavidin protein in gradually decreasing concentrations, down to 27 ng mm-2, using the image recorded at 1.5 THz.

Tunability enhancement of a terahertz-wave parametric generator pumped by a microchip Nd:YAG laser

We have enhanced the tunability of a terahertz-wave parametric generator using MgO:LiNbO3 pumped by a subnanosecond, passively Q-switched, microchip Nd:YAG laser. This pump source allows high-intensity pumping without damage to the nonlinear crystal and generates a narrow linewidth and tunable terahertz wave with injection seeding by an external cavity diode laser for the idler wave. The high-intensity pumping causes a gain curve broadening of the terahertz-wave parametric generation, especially in the high-frequency region. We obtained an output terahertz wave with a tuning range of 0.9-3 THz (100-330 microm), a peak power of 100 mW, and a linewidth of less than 10 GHz. This room temperature operated, palm-sized source promises to be a widely tunable terahertz-wave source that is suited to a variety of applications.

Terahertz Sensing of Thin Poly(ethylene Terephthalate) Film Thickness Using a Metallic Mesh

A metallic mesh, i.e., a metallic thin film with regularly spaced openings, works as a band-pass filter in the terahertz region. The filters transmittance is far higher than the open-area ratio and its transmission spectrum is affected by the index of refraction in and above the openings. Therefore, metallic-mesh films can be used as high-sensitivity sensing or imaging conduits if samples adhere to the metal surface. Here, we report on our success in detecting 1-µm-thickness differences in poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) films and recording two-dimensional (2D) images using metallic-mesh sensing and imaging applications.

Output power enhancement of a palmtop terahertz-wave parametric generator

Broadband terahertz (THz) waves were generated by optical parametric processes based on laser light scattering from the polariton mode of a nonlinear crystal. By using the parametric oscillation of a MgO-doped LiNbO3 crystal pumped by a nanosecond Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, we have realized a broadband, high-energy and compact THz-wave source. We report the development of a THz-wave parametric generator (TPG) using a small pump source with a short pulse width and a top-hat beam profile. These characteristics of the pump beam permit high-intensity pumping especially close to the output surface of the THz wave without thermal damage to the crystal surface. We also calculated the outcoupled THz wave for beams with two different intensity profiles: a top-hat beam (in this experiment) and a Gaussian beam (previously reported). The result shows the mechanism of the output energy and/or power enhancement.