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Development of a Compact and Portable Terahertz Imaging System for Industrial Applications
Summary
Researchers developed a compact, portable terahertz imaging device suitable for use outside the laboratory, demonstrating its ability to detect microplastics in soil among a range of other applications. While microplastic detection is one of several uses tested, the availability of low-cost, field-deployable detection technology could support faster and broader environmental monitoring of microplastic contamination.
Terahertz (THz) imaging, which employs THz radiation to see-through different materials, has a wide range of applications, from nondestructive evaluation to biomedical applications. However, typically, $\mathbf{T H z}$ imaging systems are limited to laboratory-level optical bench-based setups with sophisticated vibration isolators for efficient operation. The sensitive nature of various components of the THz imaging system has prevented its widespread usage in industrial in-field applications. Hence, the authors have developed a compact and portable terahertz imaging system suitable for in-field industrial applications. The various components of the system have been carefully selected, taking the ruggedness and low cost into consideration. The suitability of the portable THz imaging system to different application areas has been demonstrated, which includes security screening to detect concealing objects, nondestructive testing of composites, moisture detection in leaves, microplastics identification in soil, food quality assessment, porosity change assessment in pharmaceutical tablets, etc. These imaging results prove the capability of this system to be deployed in industrial field applications in the future.
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