A Review of Thermal Detectors of THz Radiation Operated at Room Temperature.

This article concerns optical detection issues in the terahertz (THz) range. This is a kind of guide to various types of uncooled thermal detectors in the most often applications. Particular attention is paid to the principle of their operation, technology, and practical features.

Ultraviolet Photodetectors: From Photocathodes to Low-Dimensional Solids.

The paper presents the long-term evolution and recent development of ultraviolet photodetectors. First, the general theory of ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors is briefly described. Then the different types of detectors are presented, starting with the older photoemission detectors through photomultipliers and image intensifiers.

Two-Channel Detecting Sensor with Signal Cross-Correlation for FTIR Instruments.

Unlabelled: This paper's purpose was to demonstrate a performance of a novel approach in a low-noise optical sensor for an FTIR spectrometer.

Methods: Compared to the standard FTIR detection setup, our sensor ensures a higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and lower signal standard deviation by reducing the uncorrelated noise components (e.g.

Optical Wireless Link Operated at the Wavelength of 4.0 µm with Commercially Available Interband Cascade Laser.

This paper evaluates the key factors influencing the design of optical wireless communication (OWC) systems operating in the mid-infrared range. The performed analysis has shown that working in this spectral "window", compared to other wavelengths, is more effective in reducing the attenuation of radiation. The main goal was to verify the capabilities of the "on-shelf" interband cascade (IC) laser in the context of OWC system construction, considering its output power, modulation rate, room temperature operation, and integrated structure.

Data Link with a High-Power Pulsed Quantum Cascade Laser Operating at the Wavelength of 4.5 µm.

This article is a short study of the application of high-power quantum cascade lasers and photodetectors in medium-infrared optical wireless communications (OWC). The link range is mainly determined by the transmitted beam parameters and the performance of the light sensor. The light power and the photodetector noise directly determine the signal-to-noise power ratio.

Air sampling unit for breath analyzers.

The paper presents a portable breath sampling unit (BSU) for human breath analyzers. The developed unit can be used to probe air from the upper airway and alveolar for clinical and science studies. The BSU is able to operate as a patient interface device for most types of breath analyzers.

Mid-infrared, super-flat, supercontinuum generation covering the 2-5 μm spectral band using a fluoroindate fibre pumped with picosecond pulses.

Broadband, mid-infrared supercontinuum generation in a step-index fluoroindate fibre is reported. By using ~70-picosecond laser pulses at 2.02 μm, provided by an optical parametric generator, a wide spectrum with a cut-off wavelength at 5.

Aspects of the application of cavity enhanced spectroscopy to nitrogen oxides detection.

This article presents design issues of high-sensitive laser absorption spectroscopy systems for nitrogen oxides (NO(x)) detection. Examples of our systems and their investigation results are also described. The constructed systems use one of the most sensitive methods, cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy (CEAS).

A high-power laser-driven source of sub-nanosecond soft X-ray pulses for single-shot radiobiology experiments.

A large-scale, double-stream gas puff target has been illuminated by sub-kJ, near-infrared (NIR) focused laser pulses at the PALS facility (Prague Asterix Laser System) to produce high-energy pulses of soft X rays from hot, dense plasma. The double-puff arrangement ensures high gas density and conversion efficiency from NIR to X rays approaching that typical for solid targets. In addition, its major advantage over solid targets is that it is free of debris and has substantially suppressed charged-particle emission.

Optical and X-ray emission spectroscopy of high-power laser-induced dielectric breakdown in molecular gases and their mixtures.

Large-scale plasma was created in molecular gases (CO, CO2, N2, H2O) and their mixtures by high-power laser-induced dielectric breakdown (LIDB). Compositions of the mixtures used are those suggested for the early earth's atmosphere of neutral and/or mildly reducing character. Time-integrated optical spectra emitted from the laser spark have been measured and analyzed.