World of Photonics Portal - PRESS RELEASES

Scanning people without invading privacy – this is being made possible by a process developed on the basis of optical technologies. With the aid of terahertz technology, it is possible to detect dangerous objects and substances on a human body without showing anatomical details. This technology could soon be standard equipment at airports, because there is still a strong need for modern solutions that protect against threats. In many cases, optical technologies blaze trails for applications in security technology. At LASER World of PHOTONICS, the world’s leading trade show for optical technologies, which is taking place from 15 through 18 June 2009 in Munich, business people and scientists will be presenting the latest developments for laser and photonics applications in security technology.

Terahertz technology offers tremendous potential for scanning people. Unlike body scanners that perform what has been referred to as a “virtual strip search,” screening in the terahertz range delivers precise images without invading personal space. This technology employs images similar to those produced by an ultrasound device. The terahertz spectral range lies between the far-infrared and microwave wavelengths (between 1mm and 3µm). Vibrations from terahertz beams penetrate materials that are impervious to light, such as clothing, paper or plastic. Water, metal or chemical liquids, on the other hand, absorb or reflect this beam, which makes it possible to detect objects such as ceramic knives or explosives. In this way, passive radiation can depict objects and liquids without revealing the exact outline of a person’s body and without emitting harmful radiation. Prototypes of terahertz scanners are already in use. Additional progress in research could soon make this technology standard equipment at airports.

Taking biometrics to the next level – scanning blood vessels
Whether they are used for scanning a person’s iris or fingers or for verifying a face or a voice, diverse methods are being used widely for access control or data protection. Most of them are based on optical technologies. Now, recent developments also make it possible to scan the blood vessels in a person’s fingers. Infrared radiation is used to illuminate the hemoglobin in the blood vessels, thus rendering it “readable.” Not limited to the surface, such a scan is able to register data on what is inside a finger. Each human being’s inner blood vessels form a unique pattern. Consequently, scanning blood vessels offers a very high level of security, and the process is already able to achieve a detection rate of nearly one hundred percent. This makes additional verification of a person’s identification documents during security checks superfluous.

Optical technologies – key technologies for security
New security regulations for airports, public buildings and industry have presented significant challenges for surveillance technology in recent years. From terahertz technologies to night-vision devices, from thermographic cameras to biometric processes, and from explosives detectors to fingerprint analysis, numerous modern solutions have already been built on the foundation of optical technologies.
From 15 through 18 June at LASER World of PHOTONICS 2009, international exhibitors from industry and science will be presenting the possibilities and the latest developments in research and development work for optical applications in security technology.
The World of Photonics Congress, which is being held in parallel with the trade show, will be illuminating the latest technological developments in this area. From 14 through 19 June 2009, within the framework of the “CLEO / Europe-EQEC 2009 Joint Symposium” conference, a variety of sessions will be held on the different areas of terahertz technology, including “Terahertz Sources and Applications.”

Security technology – a stable market with strong companies in Germany
In 2008, the German market for security equipment grew to 21 billion euros. A study from the German Federal Ministry for Business and Technology (BMWi) predicts a market volume of over 31 billion euros by the year 2015. Although German business people in this market segment enjoy strong national and international positions, the BMWi is calling for increased collaboration between users and manufacturers in order to secure and promote this growth trend. This year, LASER World of PHOTONICS is again making an important contribution toward achieving this goal.

From 15 to 19 June 2009 in Munich, Germany, LASER World of PHOTONICS 2009 offers users and scientists a platform for the international exchange of ideas. Well-known manufacturers such as Toptica Photonics AG of Graefelfing, Germany; Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. of Herrsching, Germany; Alpes Laser S.A. of Neuchâtel, Switzerland, and AIM Inc. of Cranston, RI/USA, are presenting systems and components for optical applications in security technologies ranging from biometric processes to forensic techniques and scanning technologies.