Photon16 - Call for abstracts - THz Applications

This years Photon 16 Conference will be hosting a session on Terahertz Near-Field Interactions, with the aim of organising a focused, stimulating and productive discussion of recent advances in this area of research.
Whether you develop THz sensors that take advantage of near-field coupling, investigate interactions within THz metamaterials or enable sub-wavelength spatial resolution using THz near-field microscopy methods, this meeting will be a fantastic opportunity to present your recent achievements and share your ideas.

Photon 16 is the largest photonics conference in the UK, and will take place in Leeds on 5th-8th September, 2016.

Full details are available here

Active Control of Electromagnetically Induced Transparency Analog in Terahertz MEMS Metamaterial

Prakash Pitchappa ; Manukumara Manjappa ; Chong Pei Ho ; Ranjan Singh ; Navab Singh ; Chengkuo Lee

Abstract

Independent control of near-field-coupled bright and dark resonators for active modulation and frequency tuning of electromagnetically induced transparency analog in terahertz spectral region is experimentally demonstrated. Out-of-plane reconfigurable microcantilever is the active element for resonator control. The proposed metamaterial is miniaturized, electrically controlled, and can achieve up to an order of magnitude change in THz group-delay bandwidth product.

Full article here

Innovate UK 2016 - Emerging Imaging Showcase

TeraView's Mike Evans will be giving a talk at this years Innovate UK event discussing the recent project 'Sensor Array for Terahertz Imaging in Non-destructive test' (SATIN), a collaboration between TeraView and The Engineering & Computing Science Department at the University of Durham, which focused on non-destructive testing for industrial applications.

The event itself is hosted by Innovate UK and the Knowledge Transfer Network and will be held on Tuesday, 26 January 2016, in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Event Details

To celebrate the successful conclusion of the projects funded by Innovate UK under the Emerging Imaging call, “Seeing more than before”, Innovate UK and the KTN are pleased to host a showcase event for each of the projects. 

The event will give you a chance to hear from each of the project teams on the work they have done and the benefit their technology can bring to your problems.

You will also hear from our access to finance team about the opportunities to appear on our new investor showcase platform – the growth showcase and there will also be an overview of the current and future european funding opportunities from the Enterprise Europe Network.

For those companies receiving Innovate UK grants, there will be a chance to speak to the access to finance team to discuss options for accessing the investor market.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/emerging-imaging-showcase-tickets-19706404386

OMICS International Best Poster Award

TeraView would like to congratulate Dan Sporea, Laura Mihai, Adelina Sporea and Ion Vata on being presented with the Best Poster Award at the Third International Conference and Exhibition on Lasers, Optics and Photonics, for their paper entitled:

‘Testing of ZnSe, CaF₂, BaF₂ and sapphire windows under alpha particles irradiation’

Our TPS Spectra 3000 was used by the team to investigate IR materials under ionizing radiation exposure, and is the first time that such materials have been studied under alpha particle irradiation and Terahertz.

Terahertz filter integrated with a subwavelength structured antireflection coating

Abstract

Micro-pyramid shaped subwavelength structures (SWSs) were integrated on both sides of a terahertz (THz) filter by means of stamping methods. Two silicon-based stamping molds fabricated via crystallographic wet etching were utilized to replicate SWSs onto cyclo-olefin copolymer (COC) films coated onto both sides of a THz filter at the same time. The SWSs act as an broadband antireflection coating to reduce the surfacereflection loss in a frequency range of 0.2 THz to 1.4 THz. Compared to a THz filter without SWSs, the filter integrated with double-sided SWSs exhibits a low standing wave ratio inside the substrate and THz signal transmission enhancement of up to 10.8%.

Full article available here

High-Temperature H2O Vapor Measurement Using Terahertz Spectroscopy for Industrial Furnace Applications

Abstract

We verified that high-temperature (773 K) H₂O vapor can be measured quantitatively with terahertz (THz) spectroscopy in the frequency range of 0.5–0.8 THz. The linear relationships between the absorbance peak area and the H₂O vapor volume mixing ratio (VMR) at three absorption peaks (0.557 THz, 0.658 THz, and 0.752 THz) match HITRAN-based simulations closely, which indicates that the HITRAN database can be used for practical applications. Particularly, since the peak at 0.658 THz only appears at high temperatures, it can be used to measure high-temperature H₂O vapor directly in the presence of room-temperature ambient H₂O vapor.

Full article here

Terahertz Detection of Wavelength-Size Metal Particles in Pressboard Samples

Abstract

Results of a theoretical and experimental investigation of THz detection of randomly-oriented metal particles smaller than 1 mm embedded in pressboard are reported and critically compared with X-ray scanner results. A theoretical description based on Gaussian beam theory and a transfer function approach enabled simulation of signals transmitted around and reflected from real particles and was able to predict signal detectability. Simulated signals and detection limits were compared with experimental transmission and reflection time domain spectroscopy (TDS) raster scanning data. Simulated and measured pulse amplitude and shape were in agreement. Reflection mode was superior to transmission mode in terms of both particle visibility and hit ratio. Imaging of particles was also possible in “reflection in transmission” mode, which can be used to complement classical transmission mode. X-ray images did not detect the smallest particles sufficiently and, therefore, could not be used as reference data for comparison with THz data. The results demonstrate that TDS reflection scanning is able to determine the position of small metal particles and the technique could be possibly used for quality control of pressboard insulation.

Read full article here 

Norfloxacin-loaded collagen/chitosan scaffold for skin reconstruction: Preparation, evaluation and in-vivo wound healing assessment

Abstract

Biomaterial scaffolds are versatile tools as drug carrier for treatment of wounds. A series of norfloxacin-loaded scaffolds were synthesized for treatment of wounds by combining collagen with two different types of chitosan using freeze-drying technique. Subsequently, scaffolds were screened in terms of morphology, water absorption and retention capacity, biodegradation, ex-vivo bioadhesive strength, in-vitro drug release biological compatibility, x-ray diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry as well as in-vivo evaluation. The results indicate that the scaffold mechanical strength is dependent on the type of used chitosan. The prepared scaffolds contained interconnected porous architecture. The scaffolds had high water uptake and retention capacity with extended biodegradation rate. Scaffolds prepared with chitosan HCl showed superior bioadhesive strength compared to those prepared with low molecular weight chitosan. All scaffolds showed almost 100% drug release within 24 hours. As identified by the terahertz pulsed imaging measurements, there is single scaffold area with the same concentration. After 28 days of wound dressing with selected norfoloxacin-loaded or unloaded collagen/chitosan scaffolds in Albino rats, it was found that the tissue regeneration time was fast compared to non-treated wounds. Furthermore, the drug-loaded scaffolds showed normal structure of an intact epidermal layer as well as the underlying dermis as revealed by histopathological studies. The obtained results suggest that the investigated norfloxacin-loaded collagen/chitosan scaffold is a potential candidate for skin regeneration application.



Full article available here

Equivalent circuit for VO2 phase change material film in reconfigurable frequency selective surfaces

Abstract

We developed equivalent circuits of phase change materials based on vanadium dioxide (VO2) thin films. These circuits are used to model VO2thin films for reconfigurable frequency selective surfaces (FSSs). This is important as it provides a way for designing complex structures. A reconfigurable FSS filter using VO2 ON/OFF switches is designed demonstrating −60 dB isolation between the states. This filter is used to provide the transmission and reflection responses of the FSS in the frequency range of 0.1–0.6 THz. The comparison between equivalent circuit and full-wave simulation shows excellent agreement.

Read full article here