Full-Field Terahertz Imaging at Kilohertz Frame Rates Using Atomic Vapor

Abstract

There is much interest in employing terahertz (THz) radiation across a range of imaging applications, but so far, technologies have struggled to achieve the necessary frame rates. Here, we demonstrate a THz imaging system based upon efficient THz-to-optical conversion in atomic vapor, where full-field images can be collected at ultrahigh speeds using conventional optical camera technology. For a 0.55-THz field, we show an effective 1-cm^{2} sensor with near diffraction-limited spatial resolution and a minimum detectable power of (190±30) fW s^{-1/2} per (40×40) μm^{2} pixel capable of video capture at 3000 frames per second. This combination of speed and sensitivity represents a step change in the state of the art of THz imaging and will likely lead to its uptake in wider industrial settings.