06:17 Jun-03-2004 wolfgang.bisle R & D, Project leader & Group Leader InService Inspect. Airbus Deutschland GmbH, Germany, Joined Jul 2000 35
Terahertz for NDT
Maybe you have already heard about it: a new type of instruments deals with new capabilities using a "new" frequency band and mysterious things are sometimes reported in popular magazines.
It seems to be attractive for checking aircraft passengers and their baggage to detect items unrecognizable with traditional methods. It is now used in Pharma Industry for Quality Control of Pills.
Tera-Hertz
Recently I a discussed with a researcher of a german research institute the capability to use them for other NDT - he was very sceptical because of some experiements he heard from an other institute of the neighbouring university. Others tell nice stories.
Whats your opinion or experience? Would be interested to hear more about that. Seems that detectors are now available, but sources still are challenging to design. Bruker Optics on the other hand is already selling systems for transmission testing ...
Re: Terahertz for NDT ----------- Start Original Message ----------- : Maybe you have already heard about it: : a new type of instruments deals with new capabilities using a "new" frequency band and mysterious things are sometimes reported in popular magazines. : It seems to be attractive for checking aircraft passengers and their baggage to detect items unrecognizable with traditional methods. It is now used in Pharma Industry for Quality Control of Pills. : Tera-Hertz : Recently I a discussed with a researcher of a german research institute the capability to use them for other NDT - he was very sceptical because of some experiements he heard from an other institute of the neighbouring university. Others tell nice stories. : Whats your opinion or experience? : Would be interested to hear more about that. : Seems that detectors are now available, but sources still are challenging to design. Bruker Optics on the other hand is already selling systems for transmission testing ... ------------ End Original Message ------------
We are using the Terahertz system T-Ray 2000 created by Picometrix. This company worked with NASA to create a diagnostic technique to image voids in the TPS foam on the External Tank. The development work that remains is to improve the ability to focus the electromagnetic energy at different depths in the 8" foam. The time dependence of this energy is critical and requires sophiticated optical switching which makes the system we have rather large and heavy. It is still somewhat portable in the wheeled carts they package it in. The web site is attached.
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