Terahertz Sensing and Imaging Research Team

Team Leader

Chiko Otani

D.Sci.

Photo: Chiko Otani

Contact

Access mapThe webpage will open in a new tab.

Terahertz Sensing and Imaging Research Team,
RIKEN Center for Advanced Photonics

519-1399 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-0845 Japan

Outline

Terahertz (THz) wave has the unique characteristics such as the transparency to many soft materials and their spectral absorption features. These characteristics can be utilized for many applications in various scientific and industrial fields. In this team, we are developing novel technology, science and applications in THz sensing and imaging. Especially, we have promoted the challenge to the control of molecular structures and functions by the strong THz fields, the research of THz spectroscopy of macromolecules, and the development of high-sensitivity imaging detectors and their applications to the observational research as well as the collaborative research and development for its practical applications.

Fields

Interdisciplinary science and engineering, Chemistry, Engineering, Molecular Biology / Genetics

Keywords

Terahertz science, Terahertz spectroscopy, Terahertz imaging, Terahertz control, Superconducting detector

Subjects

  1. Terahertz spectroscopy of polymers and the control of molecular structures and functions
  2. Development of high-sensitivity superconducting detectors for CMB polarization observations
  3. Applications of terahertz sensing and imaging
  4. Development of ultrafast and ultra-broadband optical-pump THz-probe systems and its applications
Research image

(Left) Fluorescent microscope images of biopolymer (actin filaments).(Right) The number of actin filaments with or without THz irradiation.

Selected Publications

  1. Feng, C. H., Otani, C., and Ogawa, Y.: “Innovatively identifying naringin and hesperidin by using terahertz spectroscopy and evaluating flavonoids extracts from waste orange peels by coupling with multivariate analysis” , Food Control vol.137, 108897 (2022).
  2. Yamazaki, S., Ueno, Y., Hosoki, R., Saito, T., Idehara, T., Yamaguchi, Y., Otani, C., Ogawa, Y., Harata, M., and Hoshina, H.: “THz irradiation inhibits cell division by affecting actin dynamics” , PloS One 16, e0248381 (2021).
  3. Momiyama, H., Sasaki, Y., Yoshimine, I., Nagano, S., Yuasa, T., and Otani, C.: “Depth super-resolved imaging of infrastructures defects using a terahertz-wave interferometer”, NDT&E Int’l. vol. 120, 102431 (2021).
  4. Yamashita, M., Otani, C.: “Intrinsic and extrinsic effects on intraband optical conductivity of hot carriers in photoexcited graphene”, Physical Review Research 3, 013150 (2021).
  5. Ikeda, S., Yamashita, M., and Otani, C.: “Hot carrier dynamics and electron-phonon coupling in photoexcited graphene via time-resolved ultrabroadband terahertz spectroscopy” , Physical Review Research 3, 043143 (2021).

Members

Chiko OtaniTeam Leader
Hiromichi HoshinaSenior Scientist
Yoshiaki SasakiTechnical Scientist
Javier Miguel HernandezSpecial Postdoctoral Researcher
Mingxi ChenJunior Research Associate
Yuya UenoJunior Research Associate