THz all-electronic 3D imaging for safety and security applications

The ability of terahertz and millimeter-wave imaging to detect suspicious hidden objects underneath or in luggage has led to increased interest in these techniques. Several approaches have been demonstrated in the past few years, amongst which active, all-electronic terahertz imaging has proven to be particularly adapted for safety and security applications. It combines a large dynamic range and the ability to perform range measurements with increased spatial resolution. At the French-German Research Institute of Saint Louis (ISL), we use an all-electronic 3D imaging system for a comprehensive study on various suspicious objects and cloth types. We demonstrate an enhanced detection capability for hidden suspicious objects if the range information is extracted and visualized in appropriate ways.