Collection of ENEA technology and expertise
NON-DESTRUCTIVE CHARACTERIZATION OF MATERIALS, COMPONENTS AND BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES THROUGH THZ SPECTROSCOPY. DIAGNOSTICS OF THERMONUCLEAR AND INDUSTRIAL PLASMAS.
THz-TDS technology allows the (non-disruptive) study of properties and structure of various types of samples through the analysis of roto-vibrational absorption in the frequency region (0.1-30 GHz). The method provides simple, reliable sample analysis with compact instrumentation and fast, intuitive data analysis.
THz-TDS measurement of the optical properties of a metal vapour plasma in spectroscopic lamp
Measurement setup for THz beam tubularity, with polymeric sample included in the path
Application sectors
Problem to solve
Non-disruptive analysis of the property of plastic and composite materials, opto-mechanical components and biological tissues and samples.
Description
THz-TDS technology is a powerful method to study properties structure of many types of samples, through the analysis of the roto-vibrational absorptions in the frequency region (0.1-30) GHz. Measurements are performed by stimulating the emission of a very short duration pulse (picoseconds) in a semiconductor (GaAs or similar) by means of a pulsed femtosecond laser (wavelength (800-1000) nm). The temporal evolution of the pulse that has crossed the sample is recorded and analysed with Fourier methods to obtain amplitude and phase of the transmission spectrum of the sample. From these information, both macroscopic and microscopic properties of the sample inner structure are inferred. As an example: density, refractive index (optical properties), distribution and size of internal layers. Measurements are performed in an airtight box with controlled atmosphere, removing impurities and humidity, in order to minimise errors. Samplesrange from polymers and plastic and possibly metallic structures of all types, to chemical components in solution and not, up to biological tissues, plasmas and special gases.
Innovative aspects and advantages
- The solution is unique in its kind, and supplants many existing spectroscopic methods with a single powerful instrument.
Technological Maturity 9
Strengths
- Cost
- Social/economic relevance
- Legal/regulatory content
- Efficiency/productivity/performance
- Innovation
- Lack of technology/solution for the specific task
- Scalability
- Ease of use
- Transferability/mobility
- Processing/feed-back times
- Non-invasiveness
- No necessity for additional facilities
- Environmental impact
- Raw materials/components availability
- Other
Admissible applications
- 1. Materials, chemical products and components for industrial and civilian use
- 2. Thermonuclear and industrial plasma diagnostics
- 3. Aerospace and atmosphere studies
- 4. Analysis of biological tissues and samples for biomedical applications
Research group involved
Patent Available for Licensing
Disponibile per una licenza esclusiva
Revision date
17-07-2025
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