介绍了一种基于返波管(BWO)的太赫兹波成像系统。BWO连续太赫兹波成像是一种新的无损检测方法。实验过程中把样品放在X－Z二维电控平移台上进行扫描成像，透过样品的太赫兹波强度信息由热释电探测器接收，然后经过电脑成像。给出了应用0．71 THz的连续太赫兹波对打孔铝板、公交卡、校园卡的内部结构和对隐藏在信封内硬币等物体和信封内纸片上的铅字迹的成像实验研究事例，并且测知该系统能够分辨出直径最小为1．5 mm的小孔。这项工作揭示了使用BWO连续太赫兹波成像系统在无损检测和安全检查领域是有效的。

A terahertz (THz) imaging system based on a backward-wave oscillator (BWO) is presented. BWO continuous THz wave imaging is a new approach to nondestructive testing. In the experiment,a sample was scanned on an X-Z 2-D translation stage,and the THz intensity information of the sample was picked up by a pyroelectric detector for imaging with a computer.A number of potential imaging applications were demonstrated by using the 0.71 THz radiation,including nondestructive real-time testing of fare cards for bus passengers,Campus IC Card and coins in an envelop. The current setup is capable of resolving an object of 1.5 mm size. It is concluded that a BWO THz imaging system is very practical and effective tool in nondestructive identification and security inspection.