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http://www.emrponline.eu/call2011/SRTs2011/SRT-n15.pdf
EMRP Call 2011 - Health, SI Broader Scope & New
Technologies
Selected Research Topic number: SRT-n15
Version: 1.0
EURAMET, EMRP-MSU
National Physical Laboratory
Hampton Road, Teddington,
Middlesex, TW11 0LW, UK
Phone: +44 20 8943 6666
emrpA169@npl.co.uk
www.euramet.org
Title: Microwave and terahertz metrology for homeland
security
Abstract
Terahertz (THz) and millimetre-wave (MMW) spectroscopy are increasingly used for security applications,
like personnel scanners, helping to detect illicit or hazardous substances. Important properties of these
systems like field strength, frequency and performance parameters like the uncertainty of spectroscopic
measurements are difficult to assess. The aim of this topic is to develop robust and comprehensive
metrology for these properties. This will allow the determination of the human exposure to (sub-)mm waves
to monitor compliance with safety limits and provide data for further regulatory action. Furthermore, it will
enable the optimisation of new technology with regard to reliability and optimum performance at lowest
possible radiation levels.
Conformity with the Work Programme
This Call for JRPs conforms to the EMRP Outline 2008, section on “Grand Challenges” related to Health,
New Technologies & Fundamental Metrology on pages 9, 25,26 and 31.
Keywords
Millimetre and Terahertz Waves, Traceable Characterisation of Sources and Detectors, Measurement
Uncertainty of Terahertz Spectroscopy, Security Personnel Scanners, Active and Passive THz Imaging,
Remote Scanning, Beam Forming, Field Strength Assessment, Dosimetry of Non-Ionising Radiation, Living
Cell and Skin Phantoms
Background to the Metrological Challenges
Understanding how mm and THz radiation interacts with human bodies is key to the safe deployment and
public acceptance of these technologies. European Directive EC 2004/40/EC sets exposure limits up to
300 GHz, based on the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines.
However, no reliable measurement capabilities exist to assess the human exposure for scanned persons
and operating personnel of millimetre and THz systems not to mention traceability to the SI units. Such
procedures will also facilitate the development of equipment, which minimises human exposure, and
extension of the exposure guidelines to higher frequencies. In order to be able to estimate the benefit and
reliability of the available technologies, the reliable determination of operation parameters is necessary,
including the assessment of measurement uncertainties.
The properties of millimetre and THz radiation being non-ionizing and penetrating through most cloth
materials have led to the development of personnel scanners. While the personnel scanners tested at
airports right now operate at frequencies between 20 GHz and 100 GHz, active remote scanning has also
been demonstrated at higher frequencies and might be used in the next generation of scanners. Currently,
measurements in the THz and MMW bands are carried out using different modalities, and no methodology
exists for comparing and combining the data. Thus the two areas – time-domain spectroscopy and
frequency-domain network analysis - remain artificially separate and fail to benefit from synergies. Although
THz time-domain spectrometers (TDS) have been used in R&D for over 10 years, very little work has been
done on developing metrology and standards in this area. Instruments are seldom tested or calibrated, and
quoted performance specifications are inconsistent.
EMRP Call 2011 – Health, SI Broader Scope & New
Technologies
SRT-n15.doc
- 2 -
The necessary metrology to determine the properties of scanners and spectrometers as needed for the
evaluation of benefit, the improvement of technology and the assessment of possible adverse health effects
does not exist so far.
Scientific and Technological Objectives
Proposers should address the objectives stated below, which are based on the PRT submissions.
Proposers may identify amendments to the objectives or choose to address a subset of them in order to
maximise the overall impact, or address budgetary or scientific / technical constraints, but the reasons for
this should be clearly stated in the JRP-Protocol.
The JRP shall focus on providing the necessary metrology for the new emerging security technologies like
scanning systems, active imaging, ultra-wideband radar and spectrometers operating in the sub-Terahertz
and Terahertz frequency range between 20 GHz and 6 THz. Measurement methodologies to reliably
determine the properties of such systems including radiated power, field strength, operation frequency and
performance parameters shall be developed.
The specific objectives are:
1. Characterisation of sources, scanners, sensors, interconnects and transmission lines
2. Develop novel techniques where needed for calibration of CW and pulsed sources
3. Robust measurement procedures to characterise THz spectrometers
4. Investigation of the comparability of free space systems (e.g. THz pulsed spectrometers) and
wave-guide based instruments (e.g. vector network analysers).
These objectives will require large-scale approaches that are beyond the capabilities of single National
Metrology Institutes and Designated Institutes. To enhance the impact of the research, the involvement of
the appropriate user community such as industry, and standardisation and regulatory bodies, is strongly
recommended.
Proposers should establish the current state of the art, and explain how their proposed project goes beyond
this.
The total eligible cost of any proposal received for this SRT is expected to be around the 2.7 M€ guideline for
proposals in this call.
Potential Impact
Proposals must demonstrate adequate and appropriate participation/links to the “end user” community. This
may be through the inclusion of unfunded JRP partners or collaborators, or by including links to
industrial/policy advisory committees, standards committees or other bodies. Evidence of support from the
“end user” community (eg letters of support) is encouraged.
You should detail other impacts of your proposed JRP as detailed in the document “Guide 4: Writing a Joint
Research Project”
You should detail how your JRP results are going to:
feed into the development of urgent documentary standards through appropriate standards bodies
transfer knowledge to the Security sector.
You should also detail how your approach to realising the objectives will further the aim of the EMRP to
develop a coherent approach at the European level in the field of metrology. Specifically the opportunities
for:
improvement of the efficiency of use of available resources to better meet metrological needs and
to assure the traceability of national standards
the metrology capacity of Member States and countries associated with the Seventh Framework
Programme whose metrology programmes are at an early stage of development to be increased
outside researchers & research organisations other than NMIs and DIs to be involved in the work
Time-scale
The project should be of up to 3 years duration.
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