Frequencies in the terahertz range, from 100 gigahertz to 10 terahertz, are endowed with many uniquely attractive features and assumed to be widely used in various fields, such as wireless communication, aerospace, security and biomedicine. In laboratory demonstrations, terahertz frequency can transfer large amounts of data quickly, obtain high-resolution images, identify explosives and reveal hidden weapons without ionizing on atoms and molecules in human tissue. Indeed, located between microwaves and infrared, the THz band has a number of relevant benefits when applied to sensing and imaging. Like microwaves, THz waves can penetrate most dielectric materials with different attenuation levels, revealing inner structures with meaningful contrast. Like infrared, THz wavelengths are sufficiently small to provide high-resolution images applicable in many day-to-ay practical scenarios. Moreover, many molecules have unique spectral fingerprints in the THz range, which can lead to accurate spectroscopic identification. Finally, due to their low photon energies, THz wave are harmless for biological tissues. But the path from laboratory achievements to real-world applications is filled with serious challenges, such as complicated scattering, lack of high sensitivity detection, requirement on high-speed signal processing, investigations on potential application scenario, and so on.
This Research Topic aims to present the latest advances and trends concerning the application of terahertz frequency in the field of substance detection and recognition. Review and original research articles on theoretical methods, applicative techniques, as well as new advanced methodologies to relevant scenarios, are very welcome. We hope, by this Special Issue, the readers of Frontiers in Physics could understand how the terahertz frequency could be applied in substance detection/recognition and in other fields.
List of topics interested:
• New antenna systems
• High sensitivity perception and characterization
• Methods on comprehensive propagation measurement and modeling
• High-speed information processing
• New methodologies to potential scenarios
Frequencies in the terahertz range, from 100 gigahertz to 10 terahertz, are endowed with many uniquely attractive features and assumed to be widely used in various fields, such as wireless communication, aerospace, security and biomedicine. In laboratory demonstrations, terahertz frequency can transfer large amounts of data quickly, obtain high-resolution images, identify explosives and reveal hidden weapons without ionizing on atoms and molecules in human tissue. Indeed, located between microwaves and infrared, the THz band has a number of relevant benefits when applied to sensing and imaging. Like microwaves, THz waves can penetrate most dielectric materials with different attenuation levels, revealing inner structures with meaningful contrast. Like infrared, THz wavelengths are sufficiently small to provide high-resolution images applicable in many day-to-ay practical scenarios. Moreover, many molecules have unique spectral fingerprints in the THz range, which can lead to accurate spectroscopic identification. Finally, due to their low photon energies, THz wave are harmless for biological tissues. But the path from laboratory achievements to real-world applications is filled with serious challenges, such as complicated scattering, lack of high sensitivity detection, requirement on high-speed signal processing, investigations on potential application scenario, and so on.
This Research Topic aims to present the latest advances and trends concerning the application of terahertz frequency in the field of substance detection and recognition. Review and original research articles on theoretical methods, applicative techniques, as well as new advanced methodologies to relevant scenarios, are very welcome. We hope, by this Special Issue, the readers of Frontiers in Physics could understand how the terahertz frequency could be applied in substance detection/recognition and in other fields.
List of topics interested:
• New antenna systems
• High sensitivity perception and characterization
• Methods on comprehensive propagation measurement and modeling
• High-speed information processing
• New methodologies to potential scenarios