Directions in TeraHertz Technology

Abstruct-The term ‘T-rays’ was coined era1 advantages over single frequency methods in the early 1990’s by Bell Labs to deincluding interfering background signal eliminascribe the spectrum in the TeraHertz range tion and simultaneous acquisition of many fre(1 THz= 10l2 Hz). The THz region of the spectrum lies on the border of where electronics and optics meet, between the mm-wave and infrared bands. Infrared sources become very dim as we approach the THz region and high speed devices struggle to reach these frequencies. Consequently, practical 0.1 THz to 20 THz sources were difficult to obtain until recent developments in laser, quantum well and compound semiconductor technology in the 1990’s. Historically, we know that each time a new band in the electromagnetic spectrum opens up, a whole new industry develops and revolves around that band.