Abstract: A spectrometer system for providing information about a target with terahertz radiation. The system may receive incident radiation from the target through fore optics, a slit aperture, secondary optics and a dispersive element which images a slit on an array of terahertz sensitive detectors. The detectors may include uncooled sensors. Each sensor may be connected to its own micro antenna. The array of detectors may be situated proximate to the dispersive element so that radiation from the element may be dispersed according to wavelength to the respective detectors optimally sensitive to the various respective wavelengths. Detector signals indicating the impingement of terahertz radiation may provide information for identifying a material of the target.

Abstract: A chemical impedance detector having several electrodes situated on or across a dielectric layer of a substrate. The electrodes may be across or covered with a thin film polymer. Each electrode may have a set of finger-like electrodes. Each set of finger-like electrodes may be intermeshed, but not in contact, with another set of finger-like electrodes. The thin-film polymer may have a low dielectric constant and a high porous surface area. The chemical impedance detector may be incorporated in a micro fluid analyzer system.

Abstract: A radiation sensor that can operate in the THz regime comprising: a micro antenna, which may comprise a two-dimensional patterned thin-film metallizations on a thin dielectric pellicle fabricated by micro machining of a silicon wafer; a thermally isolated microstructure; a coupling mechanism for coupling the energy from the micro antenna to the microstructure, the coupling mechanism providing high thermal isolation between the micro antenna and the microstructure; a temperature signal detector on the microstructure; and signal processing electronics for receiving the temperature signal and processing it into useful data.

Abstract: A differential microdischarge detector system. The system comprises two microdischarge detectors (MDDs). One of the MDDs is connected to receive sample analytes to be measured, while the other MDD is connected to receive a reference sample that contains interfering gases and none or a much lower concentration of the sample analytes to be measured. The outputs of the two MDD's are fed to a circuit that generates either a difference or a ratio between the measurements of the two MDDs. In addition, the current, impedance or voltage across the electrodes of the two MDDs may be measured and processed to generate either a difference or a ratio signal, thus obtaining additional information about the sample gas analytes.

Abstract: A radiation sensor that can operate in the THz regime comprising: a micro antenna, which may comprise a two-dimensional patterned thin-film metallizations on a thin dielectric pellicle fabricated by micro machining of a silicon wafer; a thermally isolated microstructure; a coupling mechanism for coupling the energy from the micro antenna to the microstructure, the coupling mechanism providing high thermal isolation between the micro antenna and the microstructure; a temperature signal detector on the microstructure; and signal processing electronics for receiving the temperature signal and processing it into useful data.

Abstract: In accordance with the principles of the invention, a lamellar grating interferometer breaks the radiation down into its wavelength components. The two sets of teeth of the grating are moved relative to each other. The spectral output of the interferometer is focused on an array of detectors and data is stored for a large number of positions of the grating teeth. The collected data is then Fourier transformed to recover the spectrum of the radiation.

Abstract: A chemical impedance detector having several electrodes situated on or across a dielectric layer of a substrate. The electrodes may be across or covered with a thin film polymer. Each electrode may have a set of finger-like electrodes. Each set of finger-like electrodes may be intermeshed, but not in contact, with another set of finger-like electrodes. The thin-film polymer may have a low dielectric constant and a high porous surface area. The chemical impedance detector may be incorporated in a micro fluid analyzer system.

Abstract: A differential microdischarge detector system. The system comprises two microdischarge detectors (MDDs). One of the MDDs is connected to receive sample analytes to be measured, while the other MDD is connected to receive a reference sample that contains interfering gases and none or a much lower concentration of the sample analytes to be measured. The outputs of the two MDD's are fed to a circuit that generates either a difference or a ratio between the measurements of the two MDDs. In addition, the current, impedance or voltage across the electrodes of the two MDDs may be measured and processed to generate either a difference or a ratio signal, thus obtaining additional information about the sample gas analytes.