Return to search

Signal and data processing for THz imaging

This thesis presents the research made on signal and data processing for THz imaging, with emphasis in noise analysis and tomography in amplitude contrast using a THz time-domain spectrometry system. A THz computerized tomography system was built, tested and characterized. The system is controlled from a personal computer using a program developed ad hoc. Detail is given on the operating principles of the system’s numerous optical and THz components, the design of a computer-based fast lock-in amplifier, the proposal of a local apodization method for reducing spurious oscillations in a THz spectrum, and the use of a parabolic interpolation of integrated signals as a method for estimating THz pulse delay. It is shown that our system can achieve a signal-to-noise ratio of 60 dB in spectrometry tests and 47 dB in tomography tests. Styrofoam phantoms of different shapes and up to 50x60 mm is size are used for analysis. Tomographic images are reconstructed at different frequencies from 0.2 THz to 2.5 THz, showing that volume scattering and edge contrast increase with wavelength. Evidence is given that refractive losses and surface scattering are responsible of high edge contrast in THz tomography images reconstructed in amplitude contrast. A modified Rayleigh roughness factor is proposed to model surface transmission scattering. It is also shown that volume scattering can be modelled by the material’s attenuation coefficient. The use of 4 mm apertures as spatial filters is compared against full beam imaging, and the limitations of Raleigh range are also addressed. It was estimated that for some frequencies between 0.5 THz and 1 THz the Rayleigh range is enough for the tested phantoms. Results on the influence of attenuation and scattering at different THz frequencies can be applied to the development of THz CW imaging systems and as a point of departure for the development of more complex scattering models.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:626902
Date January 2014
CreatorsBañuelos Saucedo, Miguel Angel
PublisherUniversity of Manchester
Source SetsEthos UK
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation
Sourcehttps://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/signal-and-data-processing-for-thz-imaging(58a646f3-033b-4771-b1dc-d1f9fc6dfbf0).html

Page generated in 0.0019 seconds