System and method for monitoring changes in state of matter with terahertz radiation
First Claim
1. A system for determining whether a sample under inspection is undergoing a change in state, the system comprising:
- a laser light source for generating laser light;
an optically-driven terahertz transmitter which converts the laser light into terahertz electromagnetic radiation, wherein the terahertz electromagnetic radiation is transmitted through the sample;
an optically-driven terahertz receiver positioned opposite the terahertz transmitter for receiving the terahertz electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the sample; and
an analyzer for comparing the terahertz electromagnetic radiation transmitted by the optically-driven terahertz transmitter to the terahertz electromagnetic radiation received by optically-driven terahertz receiver to determine whether the sample is undergoing a change in state.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for using terahertz radiation to detect and monitor a substance undergoing a change in phase from a liquid phase to a solid phase or vice-versa is disclosed. By employing terahertz radiation in either the pulsed mode or in the continuous-wave (CW) mode, the system can non-invasively monitor these changes. The system uses the principle that matter in a liquid state will absorb and attenuate terahertz radiation to a larger degree than matter in a semisolid or solid state. Most terahertz radiation absorption occurs due to the rotational motions of molecules, i.e. either whole molecules or groups of atoms rotating about molecular bonds.
21 Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A system for determining whether a sample under inspection is undergoing a change in state, the system comprising:
-
a laser light source for generating laser light;
an optically-driven terahertz transmitter which converts the laser light into terahertz electromagnetic radiation, wherein the terahertz electromagnetic radiation is transmitted through the sample;
an optically-driven terahertz receiver positioned opposite the terahertz transmitter for receiving the terahertz electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the sample; and
an analyzer for comparing the terahertz electromagnetic radiation transmitted by the optically-driven terahertz transmitter to the terahertz electromagnetic radiation received by optically-driven terahertz receiver to determine whether the sample is undergoing a change in state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method for determining whether a sample under inspection is undergoing a change in state, the method comprising:
-
generating a coherent lightwave using a laser light source;
converting the coherent lightwave into terahertz electromagnetic radiation using an optically-driven terahertz transmitter, wherein the optically-driven terahertz transmitter transmits the terahertz electromagnetic radiation through the sample;
receiving the terahertz electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the sample using an optically-driven terahertz receiver positioned opposite the optically-driven terahertz transmitter; and
comparing the transmitted terahertz electromagnetic radiation to the received terahertz electromagnetic radiation to determine whether the sample is undergoing a change in state. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A system for determining whether a sample under inspection is undergoing a change in state, the system comprising:
-
a pulsed laser light source for generating a pulse of laser light;
an optically-driven terahertz transmitter which converts the laser light into a pulse of terahertz electromagnetic radiation, wherein the terahertz electromagnetic radiation is transmitted through the sample;
an optically-driven terahertz receiver positioned opposite the terahertz transmitter for receiving the terahertz electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the sample;
a fiber delivery system for transmitting the laser light from the laser light source to the optically-driven terahertz transmitter and receiver;
an optical delay device for introducing a delay in the transmission of the laser light from the laser light source to the optically-driven terahertz receiver; and
an analyzer for comparing the terahertz electromagnetic radiation transmitted by the optically-driven terahertz transmitter to the terahertz electromagnetic radiation received by the optically-driven terahertz receiver to determine whether the sample is undergoing a change in state. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
-
Specification