Nick Karpowicz

Terahertz Science and Technology
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY



I am currently working with Xi-Cheng Zhang in the department of Physics, Applied Physics and Astronomy, in the center for terahertz research. We study the generation and detection of THz radiation and its potential applications.

My research concentrates on imaging applications of THz radiation. I designed optics for and constructed an imaging system using continuous-wave 200 GHz radiation from a Gunn diode oscillator, which can be used to detect defects in the insulating foam on the external tank of the space shuttle, as well as provide informative images of many other types of materials due to its absorption characteristics. I am now mostly passing the CW system on to another student in the group and beginning to devote more time to broadband, pulsed imaging systems. <[>My goal is to employ and develop novel imaging methods that take advantage of the unique characteristics of this region of the electromagnetic spectrum. It is hoped that by developing techniques to utilize this underused portion of the spectrum that both scientific advances and technologies that directly benefit society can be realized.

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