An introduction to medical imaging with coherent terahertz frequency radiation

Fitzgerald, A. J., Berry, E., Zinovev, N. N., Walker, G. C., Smith, M. A. and Chamberlain, J. M. (2002) An introduction to medical imaging with coherent terahertz frequency radiation. Physics in Medicine and Biology, 47 (7). R67-R84. ISSN 1361-6560 doi: 10.1088/0031-9155/47/7/201

Abstract/Summary

Methods have recently been developed that make use of electromagnetic radiation at terahertz (THz) frequencies, the region of the spectrum between millimetre wavelengths and the infrared, for imaging purposes. Radiation at these wavelengths is non-ionizing and subject to far less Rayleigh scatter than visible or infrared wavelengths, making it suitable for medical applications. This paper introduces THz pulsed imaging and discusses its potential for in vivo medical applications in comparison with existing modalities.