Toward a multimodal fusion of layered cultural object images: complementarity of optical coherence tomography and terahertz time-domain imaging in the heritage field.

Terahertz time-domain imaging (THz-TDI) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) are two techniques capable of providing 3D datasets from which depth profiles and cross-sectional images of an object can be derived. They are novel photonics technologies of particular relevance to the field of heritage science, for which the comprehension of the stratigraphic structure of a cultural heritage object may help in the understanding of its artistic technology and state of preservation. The differences in imaging depth, field of view, and axial/lateral resolutions of the two imaging techniques provide different but complementary information of the same scene.

Reflection terahertz time-domain imaging for analysis of an 18th century neoclassical easel painting.

Terahertz time-domain imaging (THz-TDI) has been applied for imaging a hidden portrait and other subsurface composition layers of an 18th century (18C) easel painting by Nicolai Abildgaard, the most important 18C Danish neoclassical painter of historical and mythological subjects. For the first time, a real hidden portrait on an easel painting has been imaged by THz-TDI, with an unexpected richness of detail. THz C- and B-scans have been compared with images obtained by x-ray radiography and invasive cross-sectional imaging, leading to a deeper understanding of the strengths and limitations of this technique for art diagnostic purposes and defining its role among complementary tools for the investigation of art objects.

Far-infrared spectroscopy of salt penetration into a collagen fiber scaffold.

We employed far-infrared spectroscopy to observe the amount of salt that penetrates into collagen fiber masses. The absorption properties of collagen sheets prepared from tilapia skin, bovine skin, rat tail, and sea cucumber dermis were measured using a transmission Fourier transform spectrometer in a band from approximately 100 to 700 cm(-1). We confirmed that the absorbance spectra of the four types of dried collagen sheet show good agreement, even though the amino acid compositions differed.

Vibration Modes at Terahertz and Infrared Frequencies of Ionic Liquids Consisting of an Imidazolium Cation and a Halogen Anion.

The terahertz and infrared frequency vibration modes of room-temperature ionic liquids with imidazolium cations and halogen anions were extensively investigated. There is an intermolecular vibrational mode between the imidazolium ring of an imidazolium cation, a halogen atomic anion with a large absorption coefficient and a broad bandwidth in the low THz frequency region (13-130 cm), the intramolecular vibrational modes of the alkyl-chain part of an imidazolium cation with a relatively small absorption coefficient in the mid THz frequency region (130-500 cm), the intramolecular skeletal vibrational modes of an imidazolium ring affected by the interaction between the imidazolium ring, and a halogen anion with a relatively large absorption coefficient in a high THz frequency region (500-670 cm). Interesting spectroscopic features on the interaction between imidazolium cations and halogen anions was also obtained from spectroscopic studies at IR frequencies (550-3300 cm).

Analysis of tissue condition based on interaction between inorganic and organic matter in cuttlefish bone.

The absorption properties of an inner layer of cuttlefish bone were measured using a transmission terahertz time-domain spectrometer in a band from approximately 0.1 to 4 THz. For oriented samples, an absorption peak related to the behavior of calcium carbonate appeared at approximately 2 THz.

Characterisation of historic plastics using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy and pulsed imaging.

Terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopy and 3D THz pulsed imaging have been explored with regard to polymer materials, both commodity and historic polymers. A systematic spectroscopic study of a wide range of different polymer materials showed significant differences in their spectra. Polyolefins and polystyrenes generally exhibit lower absorption than other examined polymers, various cellulose derivates, poly(vinyl chloride), poly(methyl methacrylate), polyamide, hard rubber and phenol formaldehyde resin, the last of these exhibiting the most intense absorption over the entire range, 0.

Wiener bounds for complex permittivity in terahertz spectroscopy: case study of two-phase pharmaceutical tablets.

The terahertz measurement technique has become popular in the field of pharmaceutical technology for tablet quality inspection. Spectral data obtained from the tablets is based on the utilization of Fresnel's formulas for an ideal slab. However, a tablet is a porous medium.