Stand-off Detection of Concealed Weapons using a Terahertz Illuminator with an Uncooled Imager

The goal of this effort is to develop a high power (>10 mW) THz illuminator for use with a state-of-the-art room temperature THz imaging detector array to achieve standoff visualization of concealed weapons at 10 meter distance. Used indoors. Penetrate many non-metallic materials such as paper, cloth and leather. This project will produce an antiterrorism technology that can remotely detect suicide bomb belts. This transparency of conventional clothing materials to THz waves has resulted in significant interest in using THz imaging to detect concealed weapons such as guns, knives and explosives.

Deliverable for phase I of the project will be a breadboard system that utilizes a 'sparse array' to prove feasibility.

The majority of the users of this technology will be local law enforcement.

ca/ncf