Charles Dietlein

Bio: Charles Dietlein is an academic researcher from National Institute of Standards and Technology. The author has contributed to research in topics: Terahertz radiation & Microbolometer. The author has an hindex of 15, co-authored 30 publications receiving 679 citations. Previous affiliations of Charles Dietlein include United States Department of the Army & University of Colorado Boulder.

Passive terahertz camera for standoff security screening

Abstract: We describe the construction and performance of a passive, real-time terahertz camera based on a modular, 64-element linear array of cryogenic hotspot microbolometers. A reflective conical scanner sweeps out a 2 m x 4 m (vertical x horizontal) field of view (FOV) at a standoff range of 8 m. The focal plane array is cooled to 4 K in a closed cycle refrigerator, and the signals are detected on free-standing bridges of superconducting Nb or NbN at the feeds of broadband planar spiral antennas. The NETD of the focal-plane array, referred to the target plane and to a frame rate of 5 s(-1), is 1.25 K near the center of the array and 2 K overall.

Detection and Segmentation of Concealed Objects in Terahertz Images

Abstract: Terahertz imaging makes it possible to acquire images of objects concealed underneath clothing by measuring the radiometric temperatures of different objects on a human subject. The goal of this work is to automatically detect and segment concealed objects in broadband 0.1-1 THz images. Due to the inherent physical properties of passive terahertz imaging and associated hardware, images have poor contrast and low signal to noise ratio. Standard segmentation algorithms are unable to segment or detect concealed objects. Our approach relies on two stages. First, we remove the noise from the image using the anisotropic diffusion algorithm. We then detect the boundaries of the concealed objects. We use a mixture of Gaussian densities to model the distribution of the temperature inside the image. We then evolve curves along the isocontours of the image to identify the concealed objects. We have compared our approach with two state-of-the-art segmentation methods. Both methods fail to identify the concealed objects, while our method accurately detected the objects. In addition, our approach was more accurate than a state-of-the-art supervised image segmentation algorithm that required that the concealed objects be already identified. Our approach is completely unsupervised and could work in real-time on dedicated hardware.

A W -Band Polarization Converter and Isolator

Abstract: A 95-GHz printed low-loss linear-to-circular polarizer is designed as a component of an active direct-detection millimeter-wave imaging system. The periodic printed grid structure presents different reactances to the TE and TM polarizations, resulting in equal amplitude and phase quadrature upon transmission through four parallel grids. The polarizer is measured in both a Gaussian beam system and a plane wave system, and demonstrates an axial ratio of 0.23 dB, polarization isolation of 38 dB, and transmission loss of 0.3 dB for normal incidence. The quarter-wave plate is characterized up to plusmn35deg off the optical axis, and exhibits an axial ratio better than 1 dB up to plusmn17deg off the optical axis.

Aqueous blackbody calibration source for millimeter-wave/terahertz metrology.

Abstract: This paper describes a calibrated broadband emitter for the millimeter-wave through terahertz frequency regime, called the aqueous blackbody calibration source. Due to its extremely high absorption, liquid water is chosen as the emitter on the basis of reciprocity. The water is constrained to a specific shape (an optical trap geometry) in an expanded polystyrene (EPS) container and maintained at a selected, uniform temperature. Uncertainty in the selected radiometric temperature due to the undesirable reflectance present at a water interface is minimized by the trap geometry, ensuring that radiation incident on the entrance aperture encounters a pair of s and a pair of p reflections at 45°. For water reflectance Rw of 40% at 45° in W-band, this implies a theoretical effective aperture emissivity of (1−R2wsR2wp)>98.8%. From W-band to 450 GHz, the maximum radiometric temperature uncertainty is ±0.40 K, independent of water temperature. Uncertainty from 450 GHz to 1 THz is increased due to EPS scattering and absorption, resulting in a maximum uncertainty of −3 K at 1 THz.

Antenna-coupled microbolometers for passive THz direct detection imaging arrays

Abstract: In the recent years, millimetre wave and THz imaging have received a vast amount of interest due to the interesting possibilities and applications that imaging at these frequencies could enable. Many of the applications that have generated substantial interest (such as stand-off concealed weapons detection) often require exquisite sensitivity, while a low system cost is required. In this paper we discuss one potential candidate for affordable imaging arrays: an antenna-coupled superconducting microbolometer. We show that these devices possess capabilities that are hard to meet with other passive detection schemes. While refrigeration to cryogenic temperatures is required for maximum performance, we show that the devices can be operated within a cryogen-free refrigerator that allows for turn-key operation. Comparison with other detectors is presented.

IEEE transactions on pattern analysis and machine intelligence

Abstract: In the real world, a realistic setting for computer vision or multimedia recognition problems is that we have some classes containing lots of training data and many classes contain a small amount of training data. Therefore, how to use frequent classes to help learning rare classes for which it is harder to collect the training data is an open question. Learning with Shared Information is an emerging topic in machine learning, computer vision and multimedia analysis. There are different level of components that can be shared during concept modeling and machine learning stages, such as sharing generic object parts, sharing attributes, sharing transformations, sharing regularization parameters and sharing training examples, etc. Regarding the specific methods, multi-task learning, transfer learning and deep learning can be seen as using different strategies to share information. These learning with shared information methods are very effective in solving real-world large-scale problems. This special issue aims at gathering the recent advances in learning with shared information methods and their applications in computer vision and multimedia analysis. Both state-of-the-art works, as well as literature reviews, are welcome for submission. Papers addressing interesting real-world computer vision and multimedia applications are especially encouraged. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: • Multi-task learning or transfer learning for large-scale computer vision and multimedia analysis • Deep learning for large-scale computer vision and multimedia analysis • Multi-modal approach for large-scale computer vision and multimedia analysis • Different sharing strategies, e.g., sharing generic object parts, sharing attributes, sharing transformations, sharing regularization parameters and sharing training examples, • Real-world computer vision and multimedia applications based on learning with shared information, e.g., event detection, object recognition, object detection, action recognition, human head pose estimation, object tracking, location-based services, semantic indexing. • New datasets and metrics to evaluate the benefit of the proposed sharing ability for the specific computer vision or multimedia problem. • Survey papers regarding the topic of learning with shared information. Authors who are unsure whether their planned submission is in scope may contact the guest editors prior to the submission deadline with an abstract, in order to receive feedback.

Standoff Detection of Weapons and Contraband in the 100 GHz to 1 THz Region

Abstract: The techniques and technologies currently being investigated to detect weapons and contraband concealed on persons under clothing are reviewed. The basic phenomenology of the atmosphere and materials that must be understood in order to realize such a system are discussed. The component issues and architectural designs needed to realize systems are outlined. Some conclusions with respect to further technology developments are presented.

A 0.65 THz Focal-Plane Array in a Quarter-Micron CMOS Process Technology

Abstract: A focal-plane array (FPA) for room-temperature detection of 0.65-THz radiation has been fully integrated in a low-cost 0.25 mum CMOS process technology. The circuit architecture is based on the principle of distributed resistive self-mixing and facilitates broadband direct detection well beyond the cutoff frequency of the technology. The 3 timesZ 5 pixel array consists of differential on-chip patch antennas, NMOS direct detectors, and integrated 43-dB voltage amplifiers. At 0.65 THz the FPA achieves a responsivity (Rv) of 80 kV/W and a noise equivalent power (NEP) of 300 pW/ radic{Hz}. Active multi-pixel imaging of postal envelopes demonstrates the FPAs potential for future cost-effective terahertz imaging solutions.

Bolometer noise: nonequilibrium theory

Abstract: New theoretical results for noise in cryogenic bolometers are derived. Johnson noise is reduced by as much as 60% by electrothermal feedback from the bias supply. Phonon noise in the thermal link is reduced by as much as 30% relative to the usual equilibrium formula. Photon noise in the Rayleigh-Jeans limit is computed with attention to the attenuation of the photon correlations in the light beam. Basic results on bolometer responsivity, time constant, and thermal properties are presented in a new and convenient form. Excess 1/f and contact shot noise are also discussed.