1. D4S/MRIS May 9th, 2006Diapositive N°1 MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE THz Technologies : the DGA vision GDR THz meeting Paris, May 9 th 2006 Bruno Desruelle Mission pour la recherche et linnovation scientifique Délégation Générale pour lArmement

2. D4S/MRIS May 9th, 2006Diapositive N°2 MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE Historical background Significant military activity in : mm wave applications (radar) Utilization of Infrared radiation (thermal imaging) So far very low interest in THz technologies Now considered as a potential disruptive technology for several defence & security applications

3. D4S/MRIS May 9th, 2006Diapositive N°3 MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE Global appreciation THz radiation benefits from interesting properties: Good penetration through various materials (clothes, plastic, wood…) Most explosives and biochemical agents present specific signatures in the THz range THz radiation suffers from : Poor atmospheric propagation Sensitivity to water Low level of technical maturity

4. D4S/MRIS May 9th, 2006Diapositive N°4 MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE Considered applications Short-range detection of Improvised Explosive Devices Point detection of biochemical agents Luggage, mail and personnel screening (detection of concealed weapons, explosives, biochemical threats) Imaging through walls Identification of masked individuals …

5. D4S/MRIS May 9th, 2006Diapositive N°5 MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE DGA activity in the THz domain Many questions about potential of THz technologies for our applications Need to establish a firm conviction before funding of demonstration programs Scientific program launched in 2006 (2 M) : PhD grants Research contracts Post-doctoral fellowships

6. D4S/MRIS May 9th, 2006Diapositive N°6 MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE THz program : scientific objectives (1/2) Build signature database in the THz range (absorption, refractive index, BRDF) : Explosives Biochemical agents Propagation (transmission, scattering, wavefront deformation) through various materials : Plastics Clothes Building materials

7. D4S/MRIS May 9th, 2006Diapositive N°7 MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE THz program : scientific objectives (2/2) Generation and detection of THz radiation High operating temperature QCL High power photoconductive switches Broadband high efficiency antenna Metamaterials in the THz domain Towards a THz super lens ? Theoretical design analysis of a THz imaging system

8. D4S/MRIS May 9th, 2006Diapositive N°8 MINISTÈRE DE LA DÉFENSE Next steps THz program should start end of summer 2006. 3 year program Organization of a workshop in 2007: THz technologies for defence and security applications Scientific collaboration at the european level (European Defence Agency) Likely output : demonstration program in 2008-2009