Contour Detection-Based Realistic Finite-Difference-Time-Domain Models for Microwave Breast Cancer Detection

In this paper, a collection of three-dimensional(3D)numerical breast models are developed based on clinical magnetic resonance images(MRIs). A hybrid contour detection method is used to create the contour, and the internal space is filled with different breast tissues, with each corresponding to a specified interval of MRI pixel intensity. The developed models anatomically describe the complex tissue structure and dielectric properties in breasts. Besides, they are compatible with finite-difference-time-domain(FDTD)grid cells. Convolutional perfect matched layer(CPML)is applied in conjunction with FDTD to simulate the open boundary outside the model. In the test phase, microwave breast cancer detection simulations are performed in four models with varying radiographic densities. Then, confocal algorithm is utilized to reconstruct the tumor images. Imaging results show that the tumor voxels can be recognized in every case, with 2 mm location error in two low density cases and 7 mm─8 mm location errors in two high density cases, demonstrating that the MRI-derived models can characterize the individual difference between patients' breasts.

High-Order Spatial FDTD Solver of Maxwell’s Equations for Terahertz Radiation Production

We applied a spatial high-order finite-difference-time-domain (HO-FDTD) scheme to solve 2D Maxwell’s equations in order to develop a fluid model employed to study the production of terahertz radiation by the filamentation of two femtosecond lasers in air plasma. We examined the performance of the applied scheme, in this context, we implemented the developed model to study selected phenomena in terahertz radiation production, such as the excitation energy and conversion efficiency of the produced THz radiation, in addition to the influence of the pulse chirping on properties of the produced radiation. The obtained numerical results have clarified that the applied HO-FDTD scheme is precisely accurate to solve Maxwell’s equations and sufficiently valid to study the production of terahertz radiation by the filamentation of two femtosecond lasers in air plasma.

Transmission properties of microwave in rectangular waveguide through argon plasma

To study the impact of plasma generated by microwave breakdown on the propagation properties of microwave in high power microwave(HPM) devices, a three-dimensional(3-D) fluid model of argon plasma slab in rectangular waveguide is established and calculated by the finite-difference-time-domain(FDTD) method. A rectangular waveguide with a breakdown chamber filled with argon is set as the physics model, and HPM with frequency of 3–50 GHz propagates through this physics model. The time evolutions of the breakdown process are investigated, the reflection, transmission, and absorption coefficients of HPM are calculated, and the influences of some important parameters, including the thickness of the plasma slab and the microwave frequency on the propagation properties of the microwave are shown. Results of this work can offer theoretical instructions for suppressing the influence of breakdown to the performance of HPM devices, and for the use of microwave breakdown, such as the design of plasma limiter or absorber in HPM devices.

Tunable terahertz plasmon in grating-gate coupled graphene with a resonant cavity

Plasmon modes in graphene can be tuned into resonance with an incident terahertz electromagnetic wave in the range of 1–4 THz by setting a proper gate voltage. By using the finite-difference-time-domain（FDTD） method, we simulate a graphene plasmon device comprising a single-layer graphene, a metallic grating, and a terahertz cavity. The simulations suggest that the terahertz electric field can be enhanced by several times due to the grating–cavity configuration. Due to this near-field enhancement, the maximal absorption of the incident terahertz wave reaches up to about 45%.