Advanced Photonix, Inc. Announces Entry Into the Field of Art Conservation and Documentation of Antiquities
September 25 2009 - 8:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Sept. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Advanced
Photonix, Inc. (NYSE Amex: API) announced today that Picometrix,
LLC, an API company, through its representative Spectra Design, has
received a purchase order for a T-Ray 4000 terahertz imaging system
from the National Institute of Information and Communications
Technology (NICT) in Tokyo, Japan. The T-Ray 4000 has established
itself as the leader in portable terahertz imaging systems.
Introduced in 2007, it provides the capability to inspect, evaluate
and image, multilayer objects. Within the field of art
conservation, the T-Ray 4000 has already been used to evaluate the
age of various pigments, look for drawings and frescoes under paint
or plaster, study ancient texts without opening them, and examine
the age of wood on which artwork has been painted. Using the T-Ray
4000, large objects can be scanned easily to generate an image. The
system is modular, allowing for multiple configurations to be
implemented without excessive cost. Whether the measurement is made
in transmission or reflection, single point or imaging, the system
can be reconfigured due to its patented, optical fiber-coupled
terahertz sensors. Dr. Kaori Fukunaga at NICT has used the T-Ray
4000 to image and analyze Giotto's masterpiece, "Polittico di
Badia" (c.a. 1300). This tempera polyptych is known as one of the
most important works from the dawn of the Renaissance era, and
restoration has just been completed by Stefano Scarpelli in the
Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. Dr. Fukunaga commented on the
T-Ray 4000, saying, "THz technologies are progressing very rapidly,
and the number of research papers is continuously increasing, but
by specialists in optics. This system can convince people that you
can use THz imaging off of the optical bench, without struggling to
adjust the optical alignment. It's transportable and robust, so
that we can bring it to measure precious cultural heritage objects.
We would like to welcome potential THz users to 'Try THz imaging.'
The words of the conservator, in front of Giotto's masterpiece,
says it all: 'That's the thing I wanted to see, and no other
technique can show so far.' At NICT, my work is to increase users,
both spectroscopy by Fourier Transform-THz and imaging with
time-domain THz [like the T-Ray 4000]." The T-Ray 4000 is designed
to meet the requirements of a wide range of markets including:
online process control, security, pharmaceutical, medical,
aerospace and spectroscopic research. About Advanced Photonix, Inc.
Advanced Photonix, Inc. (NYSE Amex: API) is a leading vertically
integrated optoelectronic semiconductor manufacturer of
optoelectronic solutions, high-speed optical receivers and
terahertz instrumentation to a global OEM customer base. Products
include patented silicon (Si), indium phosphide (InP) and gallium
arsinide (GaAs) based APD, PIN, and FILTRODE photodetectors;
high-speed optical receivers; and the T-Ray 4000 THz product
platform. More information on Advanced Photonix can be found at
http://www.advancedphotonix.com/. Forward-looking Statements: The
information contained herein includes forward looking statements
that are based on assumptions that management believes to be
reasonable but are subject to inherent uncertainties and risks
including, but not limited to, risks associated with the move of
our wafer fabrication facilities, technological obsolescence of
existing product lines and technological obstacles which may
prevent or slow the development and/or manufacture of new products,
limited (or slower than anticipated) customer acceptance of new
products which have been and are being developed by the Company and
a decline in the general demand for optoelectronic products.
Contact: Richard Kurtz, Advanced Photonix, Inc. (734) 864-5600
Cameron Donahue, Hayden IR (561) 653-1854
http://www.advancedphotonix.com/ DATASOURCE: Advanced Photonix,
Inc. CONTACT: Richard Kurtz of Advanced Photonix, Inc.,
+1-734-864-5600; or Cameron Donahue of Hayden IR, +1-561-653-1854,
for Advanced Photonix, Inc. Web Site:
http://www.advancedphotonix.com/
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