THz-Technology

The Terahertz (THz) range roughly lies between 300 GHz and 10 THz (λ = 1000 µm - 30 µm, E = 1.25 meV - 37.5 meV). Until recently, this region of the electromagnetic spectrum has resisted attempts to harness its potential for application, largely because of the difficulty in providing suitable radiation sources. This led to the expression 'Terahertz Gap' being used to describe the spectral range between lower frequency, electronics-based sources (such as transistors) and higher frequency, optics-based sources (such as lasers). The properties of THz radiation and its various applications are topic of research at the Institute of Semiconductor Electronics.