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Terahertz Science and Technology and Applications

B. Zhu1 , Y. Chen2 , K. Deng2 , W. Hu2 , and Z. S. Yao3
1

Center of Information and Networks, Chengdu University, China

2
Institute of Astronautics and Aeronautics
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China
3
National Key Laboratory of Space Microwave Technology, China

Abstract In the past two decades, with the rapid development of the small-scale semiconductor technology, ultra-fast laser technology, as well as ultra-fast photonics technology, terahertz
(THz for short) science and technology has shown great potential application. THz radiation, as a
new kind of coherent light source, shows great scientific value and a wide range of applications in
the field of basic researches such as physical chemistry, information and biology, etc., as well as in
the field of technology researches, such as the materials, national security and medical technology,
etc. The article summarizes the applications of THz technology in the field of basic research and
civilian technology comprehensively, and focusing on its applications in security communication,
anti-stealth radar, chemical and biological agent detection and the fields of national defense and
military.
1. INTRODUCTION

THz radiation is a general designation of a particular band of electromagnetic radiation. Generally,

THz wave denotes the electromagnetic wave with frequency between 0.1 THz and 10 THz. In
some specific cases, THz wave denotes the radiation between 0.3 THz and 3 THz. Until the mid80s of the last century, we knew little about the electromagnetic properties of this band and
which formed the terahertz gap between far infrared and millimeter-wave. The THz radiation
has been studied extensively since the emerged of the technology of the pulse THz based the
ultra-fast optoelectronics. Over the past two decades, with the rapid development of low-scale
semiconductor technology, ultra-fast laser technology, as well as ultra-fast photonics technology,
THz science and technology has shown great potential applications. As a new type of coherent
light source, THz radiation is of great scientific value and broad application prospects in physical
chemistry, information and basic research in the field of biology, as well as materials, national
security, medical and other technical fields. In this paper, the characteristics of the THz radiation
is introduced, moreover, the applications of THz technology, based on THz technology in the
military, national defense areas are introduced.
2. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THz WAVE

The reason why THz wave was studied extensively, not only because it is a kind of electromagnetic
radiation which is not familiar to human beings, more importantly, because it has many unique
characteristics and broad application prospects.
Terahertz light resides between the microwave and mid-infrared regions of the electromagnetic
spectrum. In the field of electronics, THz radiation is called millimeter wave or sub-millimeterwave; in the field of optics, it is known as far-infrared ray. From the view of energy, the energy of
THz band locates between electronic and photonic.
2.1. Wave-particle Duality

First of all, THz radiation is the electromagnetic wave, so it has all the characteristics of electromagnetic waves. THz wave has particle nature and wave nature, such as interference and diffraction.
2.2. Penetrability

THz radiation has good penetrability on a lot of dielectric material and non-polar liquids. Therefore
THz wave can be used to perspective imaging for a lot of non-transparent objects. The penetrability
of THz wave makes it as the supplement of X-ray imaging and ultrasound imaging for security checks
or quality control in nondestructive testing.
THz-wave imaging technologies, including the two-dimensional imaging, time-of-flight imaging,
compound aperture imaging, computer-assisted tomography, as well as near-field imaging.

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2.3. Security

THz radiation another notable feature is its security. Compared to X-ray with kilo-eV photon
energy, the energy of THz radiation is only mill-electron volt. Its energy is lower than the energy
of different types of chemical bond, so it will not cause harmful ionizing reaction. This is critical
to the practical applications such as the security check of travelers, inspection of other biological
samples, etc.
2.4. The Resolving Power of Spectrum

Although the THz radiation photon energy is relatively low, the band still contains a wealth of
spectral information. Many organic molecules has strong absorption and dispersion characteristics
in the THz band, the THz spectroscopy of material contains a wealth of physical and chemical
information, which making them the unique characteristics, like fingerprints. Therefore, THz spectral imaging technology is not only able to differentiate objects morphology, but also identify the
composition of objects.
2.5. Other Characteristics

Compared with the microwave, THz radiation has a higher frequency and bandwidth, as the communications carrier that can carry more information. Therefore THz wave has great potential
applications in the short-distance high-capacity wireless communications. In imaging applications,
THz wave has a higher spatial resolution, and therefore the image has more depth of field while
maintaining the same spatial resolution.
3. THz APPLICATION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The unique nature of THz radiation make it has broad and important application in the field of
astrophysics, plasma physics and engineering, materials science and engineering, biomedical engineering, environmental science and engineering, spectroscopy and imaging technology, information
science and technology, etc.
3.1. The Application THz Technology in Biomedicine

Since many biological macromolecules and DNA molecular rotation and vibration locate in the THzband level generally, the organisms has a unique response to THz wave; therefore, THz radiation
can be used for disease diagnosis, organisms detection and imaging, as shown in Fig. 1.
Teraview

Figure 1: THz tomography of human teeth [1].

Computer-aided tomography technology is the three-dimensional imaging technique, which is

developed and applied in the field of X-ray at first. THz wave can also be applied to computerassisted tomography. X-ray tomographic imaging of objects can only reflect the distribution of
absorption rate, while the THz tomography record the time waveform information of entire THz
pulse. Therefore, according to different requirements can select a different physical detection, such
as the electric field strength, peak time and even the spectral characteristics of the material. THz
tomography can get not only the absorption rate distribution of objects, but also can get the
three-dimensional distribution of the refractive index of objects and materials.
THz-wave imaging has several inherent limitations: (1) it is not able to penetrate the metal.
Metal surface is almost 100 percent reflection index of the THz radiation, THz wave therefore is
not able to detect metal objects container. (2) water has a strong absorption on the THz wave.
3.2. Safety Monitoring and Quality Control

THz radiation can also be used for detecting pollutants, biological and chemical detection, and
therefore can be used to monitor the process of food preservation and food processing. The characteristics of THz wave, penetrating objects and security, can be used for non-contact, non-injury to

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Figure 2: Detection of hidden metal weapons by THz wave.

detect specific substances, such as hidden explosives, drugs, weapons, etc [2] (as shown in Fig. 2).
As a result of the strong capacity of penetration and low energy of THz electromagnetic waves
(completely harmless to humans), THz imaging can completely replace the X-ray examination, CT
scan, and be used in the material non-destructive monitoring and vital security sector and chemical
and biological weapons inspection.
3.3. Nondestructive Testing

The safety and penetrable properties of THz wave can be used for nondestructive testing of building.
The penetrability of THz wave can be measured from THz time-domain spectroscopy. Foam is the
materials used Space shuttle commonly; the crash of the US space shuttle in 2003, Columbia
is caused by the degumming of foam isolation in external fuel tank layer. Foam has very low
absorption and refractive index on the THz wave, so THz waves can penetrate a few inches thick
foam, and to detect the buried defects. THz imaging has been selected as the one of four type of
future technology of NASA to detect the defects in space shuttle (the other three technologies for
X-ray imaging, ultrasound imaging and laser imaging).
3.4. Astronomy and Atmospheric Research

THz is a very important radio astronomy band to ultra-high spatial resolution of the universe;
therefore, we can use THz technology to carry study of the interstellar formation and the space
research. A large number of atmospheric molecules such as water, carbon monoxide, nitrogen,
oxygen can be detected in the THz band, which can be use to atmospheric environmental protection
and the monitoring of the ozone layer.
3.5. Short Distance Wireless Communications and Networking

THz band has high frequency, wide bandwidth and more channel than the microwave, which is
suitable for in local area networks and broadband mobile communications. 10 Gbps wireless transmission speeds can be obtained by THz communication, which is a few hundred or even thousands
of times faster than current Ultra-Wideband technology, and is the future hope for large-capacity
multimedia wireless communications. Some experts predict that in the near future THz wireless
network will replace the wireless LAN or Bluetooth technology, become the major short-range
wireless communications technology.
3.6. Military Applications

THz technology has three main applications in the military field: THz communications, THz nondestructive detection and anti-stealth THz ultra-wideband radar.
3.6.1. Secure Communication

In outer space, the transmission of THz is lossless, so we can achieve long-range space communications with very little power. At the same time, compared with the current space optical
communication, THz wave has wider beam width, so it is easier to pointing in the long-distance
space communication. And antenna system can achieve small and flat, and is particularly suited
for secure communications between the stars and satellites.

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3.6.2. Anti-stealth THz Ultra-wideband Radar

THz radar can emit tens of thousands of species frequency as well as pico-second and nanosecond
pulse at GW level; it has many advantages and capabilities that ordinary radar does not have. THz
radar has a broad application prospects in the military and national security.
THz radar launch THz pulse contains a wealth of frequency, which enable stealth aircraft to lose
the role of narrow-band radar absorbing coating. Furthermore, THz radar has strong anti-stealth
ability to shape stealthy and material stealthy.
Figures 3 and 4 show the radar imaging of military trailers and T72 tanks model in portable
THz radar research projects which funded by US Army National Ground Intelligence Center [2].

Figure 3: THz radar imaging of military targets.

Figure 4: THz radar imaging of hidden military targets.

3.6.3. Chemical and Biological Agent Detection

THz pulse spectrum is very sensitive to molecules and the constitutes of their surrounding environment. Therefore, in all weather conditions, as well as smoke and dust environment, THz technology
can be used in chemical detection of the air in the battlefield, and can identify of the type of the
chemical and biological agents.
4. CONCLUSIONS

Nearly two decades, THz technology have made some progress and development in both basic
research and applied research [36]. A comprehensive summary of the current THz technology in
the field of basic research, technology research and civilian applications is given. And the paper is
focused on the explanation of THz technology in the defense and the military field.
The prospects of THz technology are broad and attractive, and there is a long way to run to
achieve the following goals, namely high power generation and high sensitive detection of THz
radiation.
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