Light-Field Methods for Terahertz Imaging (T-Field)

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Ullrich Pfeiffer
• Subject Area: Electronic Semiconductors, Components and Circuits, Integrated Systems, Sensor Technology, Theoretical Electrical Engineering
• Term: from 2015 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 288230757

The promising applications of terahertz are driving the modern research towards the development of practical and low-cost terahertz imaging systems. Very recently, fully integrated terahertz imaging chip-sets have become a possibility owing to the developments in silicon process technologies. However, terahertz direct detector focal-plane-arrays (FPAs) have limited imaging applications because of the lack of phase information. Recently, researchers have started to use light-field techniques in visible light incoherent imaging for dynamic viewpoint generation. The overall objective of T-Field is to investigate and develop the light-field imaging capabilities for terahertz radiation. In this first of its kind research, we use the lens integrated 1k-pixel CMOS direct detector FPA to discern the directional information from incoming terahertz radiation. We synthesize research in electro-magnetics, optics, computer vision and image and signal processing to design T-Field instrumentation hardware and computational framework from the ground up, leading to the world's first terahertz light-field camera array.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants