- Material inspection, non-destructive testing, security
applications - Non-ionizing radiation – no health risks for
humans or animals - Imaging systems benefit from powerful all-
electronic sources Many plastic compounds and synthetics are
transparent for terahertz light. This has been used for non-
contact analysis and imaging of hidden objects. Researchers at
Braunschweig University have used TOPTICA’s DFB lasers to
examine the safety covers of airbags , demonstrating that
terahertz imaging provides an alternative to conventional -
destructive - testing methods. In a feasibility study that aimed
at security-related applications, researchers at TeraView Ltd.
(Cambridge, UK) employed terahertz radiation to depict a ceramic
knife blade hidden behind black denim. Other imaging
applications include the examination of the water content of
foodstuffs inside their air-tight packaging, or the structure of
pharmaceuticals. Compared to X-rays, a distinct advantage of
terahertz radiation is its non-ionizing nature. X-ra