• Journal of electromagnetic engineering and science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.158-165
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• 2010

This study reviewed terahertz technologies of time domain spectroscopy, T-ray imaging, and high rate wireless data transfer. The main topics of the terahertz research area were investigation of materials and package modules for terahertz wave generation and detection, and setup of the terahertz system for time domain spectroscopy(TDS), T-ray imaging and sub-THz wireless communication. In addition to Poly-GaAs film as a photoconductive switching antenna material, a table-top scale for the THz-TDS/imaging system and terahertz continuous wave(CW) generation systems for sub-THz data transfer and narrow band T-ray imaging were designed. Dielectric properties of ferroelectric BSTO($Ba_xSr_{1-x}TiO_3$) films and chalcogenide glass systems were characterized with the THz-TDS system at the THz frequency range. Package modules for terahertz wave transmitter/receiver(Tx/Rx) photoconductive antenna were developed.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.120-128
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• 2019

Radiopharmaceuticals include therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals and diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals. Therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals are administered to the body and ingested at specific organs to detect radiation emitted from the site and to construct an image to diagnose the disease. Diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals are used to treat diseases by killing cells with radiation emitted from radiopharmaceuticals, such as cancer cells, vascular endothelial cells, arthritis, and Alzheimer's disease. The application possibilities of terahertz imaging technology for the combination of radiopharmaceuticals and molecular imaging medicine are discussed and experimental methods are presented. Terahertz imaging is expected to be a powerful technique because of the effective piercing feasibility, which enables to perform safe and high resolutive imaging. To investigate the response of cell to the terahertz wave, both the pulsed and CW THz wave systems are employed. THz imaging of a rat's paraffin-embedded epithelial cell with tumor is studied in advance.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.352-358
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• 2010

This paper presented compact CW sub-THz imaging system using the terahertz transmitter(Tx) that generating 0.34 THz electromagnetic wave on based electronic device. Using 0.34 THz electromagnetic wave generated by Tx, we transmitted to sample by point by point scan method and measured transmitting terahertz wave magnitude and phase information respectively with terahertz receiver(Rx) based on sub harmonic mixer. This paper measured and compared images of several samples to obtain better imaging results by changing time delay and step distance of scanning stage which affect image resolution. Also, through the imaging measurement of various samples, we were able to assure possibility of application of terahertz wave.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.340-351
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• 2010

This paper presented compact CW sub-THz imaging system using the terahertz transmitter(Tx) that generates 0.34 THz electromagnetic wave based on electronic device. Using 0.34 THz electromagnetic wave generated by Tx, we measured transmitting terahertz wave magnitude and phase information respectively with terahertz receiver(Rx) based on sub harmonic mixer. This paper measured and compared images of several samples to obtain better imaging results by changing time delay and step distance of scanning stage which affect image resolution. Also, through the imaging measurement of various samples, we were able to assure possibility of application of terahertz wave.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.31-43
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• 2020

The feasibility of the application of terahertz electromagnetic waves in the diagnosis of prostate cancer was examined. Four samples of incomplete cancerous prostatic paraffin-embedded tissues were examined using terahertz spectral imaging (TPI) system and the results obtained by comparing the absorption coefficient and refractive index of prostate tumor, normal prostate tissue and smooth muscle from one of the paraffin tissue masses examined were reported. Three hundred and sixty cases of absorption coefficients from one of the paraffin tissues examined were used as raw data to classify these three tissues using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Least Squares Support Vector Machine (LS-SVM). An excellent classification with an accuracy of 92.22% in the prediction set was achieved. Using the distribution information of THz reflection signal intensity from sample surface and absorption coefficient of the sample, an attempt was made to use the TPI system to identify the boundaries of the different tissues involved (prostate tumors, normal and smooth muscles). The location of three identified regions in the terahertz images (frequency domain slice absorption coefficient imaging, 1.2 THz) were compared with those obtained from the histopathologic examination. The tissue tumor region had a distinctively visible color and could well be distinguished from other tissue regions in terahertz images. Results indicate that a THz spectroscopy imaging system can be efficiently used in conjunction with the proposed advanced computer-based mathematical analysis method to identify tumor regions in the paraffin tissue mass of prostate cancer.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 2019

In this study, we applied terahertz imaging technology to three Korean modern oil paintings ('Boy,' 'Girl,' and 'Hyehwadong Landscape'); investigated the types of inner layer information in the pictures that can be extracted with terahertz imaging technology; and analyzed the conditions for extracting them. The biggest problem in the terahertz imaging analysis we encountered was the image distortion caused by the change of the distance between the target surface and the terahertz detector, depending on the surface curvature of the target paintings. We then developed a 'working distance maintaining device' to solve this problem. As a result, the terahertz imaging technique was used to identify the base material characteristics and any patterns of damage inside, and presented the optimal conditions for identifying each characteristic. In addition, it was useful to employ the terahertz frequency-division image to check the characteristics of the background materials. To confirm coloring techniques such as brush strokes, it is effective to compare the maximum reflection peak image with the cross-section image; and to detect damage information inside the paintings that cannot be observed on the surface, to compare the cross-section image with the frequency-division image. On the other hand, according to the terahertz imaging analysis of the oil paintings, the internal structural damage marks of 'Boy' and 'Girl' were confirmed, and the artist's painting style was confirmed in 'Hyehwadong Landscape.' The above results are expected to be useful for the analysis and diagnosis of Korean modern oil paintings for their preservation.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.311-316
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• 2018

An antenna-coupled bolometer-type terahertz sensor was designed, fabricated, evaluated, and utilized to obtain terahertz transmission images. The sensor consists of a thin film bowtie antenna that resonates accordingly in response to an incident terahertz beam, a heater that converts the applied current in the antenna into heat, and a microbolometer that converts the rise in temperature into a change in resistance. The device is fabricated by a bulk micromachining process on a 4-inch silicon wafer. The fabricated sensor chip has a size of $2{\times}2mm$ and an active area of $0.1{\times}0.1mm^2$. The temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of the bolometer film (VOx) is 2.0%, which is acceptable for bolometer applications. The output sensor signal is proportional to the power of the incident terahertz beam. Transmission images were obtained with a 2-axis scanning imaging system that contained the sensor. The small active area of the sensor will enable the development of highly sensitive focal plane array sensors in terahertz imaging cameras in the future.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.29
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• pp.111-132
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• 2023

Terahertz radiation cannot pass through metal and therefore reflect and return most signals. Utilizing this property, this study analyzed information on paintings to verify the usage of metal materials on paintings and the scope of their application. First, the study tested specimens of metal-based pigments and synthetic pearl pigments with metallic colors and textures in order to compare basic characteristics of terahertz images, such as signal severance caused by metallic substances, traits reflected in cross-section images, and high degree of reflection. Subsequently, based on the collected information, the study diagnosed various types of paintings including Korean traditional paintings and oil paintings using the terahertz imaging technique to confirm the usage of metal-based pigments in the inner layers of paintings and their scope of application. The terahertz imaging technique could has the potential to provide scientific evidence for previously-undiscovered information and art-historical records about various types of paintings that used metalbased pigments, thereby rendering significant utility for the conservation and authentication of paintings.

• Electronics and Telecommunications Trends
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.97-105
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• 2021

The terahertz wave (THz wave) is a band between infrared and microwaves and is defined as an electromagnetic wave having a frequency of 0.1 to 10 THz band. THz waves have the property of transmitting nonpolar materials, which the visible light cannot be transmitted, such as ceramics, plastics, and paper; and the photon energy is low, such as several meV. For this reason, non-destructive testing equipment based on THz imaging technology can be applied to the industrial field. Recently, THz imaging technology was applied in wide industrial fields, such as automobiles, batteries, food, medical, and security, and being actively studied. In this paper, we describe the research trends of terahertz imaging technology and experimental results. Furthermore, we summarize the recent commercialized terahertz camera. Finally, we present the research results in the field of the human security scanner system.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.328-334
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• 2018

The paper reviews an improved continuous-wave (CW) terahertz (THz) imaging system developed for nondestructive inspection, such as CW-THz quasi-time-domain spectroscopy (QTDS) and interferometry. First, a comparison between CW and pulsed THz imaging systems is reported. The CW-THz imaging system is a simple, fast, compact, and relatively low-cost system. However, it only provides intensity data, without depth and frequency- or time-domain information. The pulsed THz imaging system yields a broader range of information, but it is expensive because of the femtosecond laser. Recently, to overcome the drawbacks of CW-THz imaging systems, many studies have been conducted, including a study on the QTDS system. In this system, an optical delay line is added to the optical arm leading to the detector. Another system studied is a CW-THz interferometric imaging system, which combines the CW-THz imaging system and far-infrared interferometer system. These systems commonly obtain depth information despite the CW-THz system. Reportedly, these systems can be successfully applied to fields where pulsed THz is used. Lastly, the applicability of these systems for nondestructive inspection was confirmed.