Because of the difficulty heretofore experienced in detecting, not to mention
generating, terahertz light, it has been considered by many in scientific
and industrial research to be the last frontier in the study of electromagnetic
waves and thus remained largely unexplored. In recent years, however, such
developments as tunable light sources utilizing pumping solid state lasers
and spectroscopy using femtosecond lasers have brought about a great deal
of progress in technological development, resulting in various proposals
for applications utilizing unique transmission properties of terahertz
wave and the characteristic absorption feature of chemical substances ("fingerprints"),
and basic research into this field has begun. In this project, we aim to
develop the field through the establishment of basic techniques for greater
sophistication in the use of terahertz wave through the development of
newer and better detection systems, using these for the development of
practical technology for their use, linking these both organically and
strategically to create standard criteria for terahertz light technology.
Group Director Katsumi MIDORIKAWA (D. Eng.)
