Terahertz Technology
Light pulses are a perfect tool for studies of ultrafast dynamic processes in nature. In our laboratories we use the terahertz waves to study the behavior of materials on a very fast time scale – vibrations in biological molecules, motion of electrons in semiconductors and polymers, and behavior of charges in such liquids as watter.
Terahertz waves are extremely promising for nondestructive analysis in advanced materials, including many types of composites and layered structures. More over, terahertz light can penetrate clothing and packing materials, and can identify dangerous chemicals, such as explosives. In our group develop imaging and sensing technologies using light at terahertz frequencies.
The terahertz frequency range has high potential for use in communications at ultrahigh speed. At DTU Fotonik we develop terahertz photonic crystal fibers for communication and medical application. We also investigate properties of various terahertz waveguides.
Biophotonics
We develop the Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) imaging technique for different application areas both within and outside the biomedical field. This non-invasive optical imaging technique is based on the use of a broadband near-infrared light source and low-coherent interferometry. It allows real-time 2D and 3D visualization of the internal structure of highly scattering materials (fx biological tissue) with micrometer resolution and millimeter penetration depth. Our main current focus in terms of application areas of OCT are within developmental biology (heart development studies), experimental lung research, ophthalmology, and non-destructive testing (NDT).
Furthermore, we are developing our invented and patented GPC-platform to be used in a number of applications requiring spatio-temporal light-beam encoding such as the generation of multiple beam optical trapping and manipulation, optical encryption or phase-visualization applications like wavefront sensing. Recently, an all-optical biophotonics workstation has been developed on this research platform.