Laser Systems

Firefly-THz

A New, Compact, Widely Tunable Terahertz Source
Terahertz (THz) waves, lying between the radio wave and far infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, exhibit unique properties. These properties offer new capabilities for many detection, imaging, security and non-destructive testing applications. Many common materials and living tissues (including paper, wood, cloth, ceramics, plastics, bone, fat, various powders, and dried food) are semi-transparent at terahertz wavelengths, and have distinct THz absorption spectra or ‘fingerprints'. This permits these substances to be analyzed, imaged, and selectively identified. THz wavelengths are also short enough to provide a spatial resolution that is sufficiently discerning for many imaging applications, yet long enough to avoid potentially harmful ionizing effects. In addition, like light waves, THz waves can easily be propagated through space, and steered and focused using THz optics. This opens the door to a variety of device incarnations. The highly appealing properties of THz waves, coupled with a rapidly increasing database of THz fingerprints (including for explosives, illegal drugs, pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, and disease markers) means the range of potential THz applications is expanding rapidly.

The development of practical, cost-effective THz sources has so far inhibited the widespread realization of THz applications. Firefly-THz, however, is a new widely tunable THz source with unique performance capabilities. It builds on the highly efficient, diode-pumped, intracavity optical parametric oscillator (OPO) design of the Firefly-IR. Firefly-THz uses a compact, highly innovative non-collinear OPO geometry, in which the OPO gain medium is placed at the intersection of the pump laser cavity and a separate OPO cavity. This design results in highly efficient conversion of the nanosecond pump pulses to THz wavelengths, and removes the need for a costly high-energy pump laser. Output powers close to 10µW at 400Hz have already been demonstrated (10x higher power than equivalent THz sources), with continuous tuning from 1.2 to >3THz (<100 to 250µm). This wide tuning enables users to access the THz absorption features or ‘fingerprints’ of many different substances with a single Firefly-THz, while its high power allows the Firefly-THz to 'see' further in detection/ sensing applications. Higher power and wider tuning Firefly-THz variants are anticipated.

Firefly-THz’s unique blend of wide and continuous tuning in the THz range, high efficiency and class-leading output power make it ideally suited to a range of emerging THz applications. These include: the spectroscopy, detection and imaging of drugs, explosives and bio-agents; non-destructive and non-invasive testing and inspection; pharmaceutical and foodstuff quality control, and medical diagnostics. Firefly-THz complies with all regulatory design standards, including safety, CE, and the new RoHS/WEEE requirements. Preliminary specifications should be confirmed with the factory at the time of ordering. Customized Firefly-THz performance is available - please inquire.

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