ECE Departmental Seminar

"Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopic and Polarization-Sensitive Imaging Techniques for Biomedical Imaging and Non-Destructive Testing Applications"

Prof. Hassan Arbab
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University

Friday, 5/12/17, 1:00pm
Light Engineering 250

Abstract: In this seminar, we will first review the key concepts relevant to the generation and detection of terahertz electromagnetic waves in a standard Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy (THz-TDS) setup, namely photoconductive antennas, non-linear optical rectification, and gas-plasma sources and detectors. We will further discuss a new class of plasmonic large-area high-power sources that can deliver up to 1 mW in the terahertz range. We will then discuss a new variation of the THz-TDS technique, recently invented in our group, dubbed Terahertz Time-Domain Polarimetry (THz-TDP), which allows for real-time detection of the polarization direction of the terahertz field without the need for any external polarizers. Finally, we will explore applications of both THz-TDS and THz-TDP techniques in biomedical imaging and non-destructive testing (NDT). These applications range from imaging diagnosis of skin burns, melanoma and breast cancer to early-diagnosis of corneal diseases such as Glaucoma and Fuchs' dystrophy, and non-destructive testing in aerospace and pharmaceutical industries. The goal is to introduce the diverse set of terahertz imaging projects currently being pursued in the new Terahertz Biophotonics Lab in the Stony Brook University.

Bio: Hassan Arbab studied Electrical Engineering in the National University of Iran, Tehran, and earned a Bachelor's degree in 2004. He then moved to the University of Washington, Seattle, where he earned an MSEE degree, and a Dual PhD in Electrical Engineering and Nanotechnology in 2012. He was then awarded the inaugural Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) Director's Distinguished Post-doctoral Fellowship, designed as a path to independence for young investigators. During his postdoctoral appointment, Hassan continued his PhD work on developing terahertz spectroscopic technologies for biomedical imaging and industrial non-destructive testing applications. He held a senior research scientist position at the APL-UW until September 2016, when he moved to the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Stony Brook University, and started the new Terahertz Biophotonics Laboratory.