TERAHERTZ BAND (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)
Context: TRAI recommended establishing a Terahertz Experimental Authorisation (THEA) for research and development in the 95 GHz – 3 THz frequency bands.
Terahertz Band
- About: It waves fall between the microwave and infrared regions in the electromagnetic spectrum.
- THz technology is employed to investigate molecular motion and interactions, providing insights into various planetary and terrestrial phenomena.
- Terahertz Properties:
o Between microwaves & infrared
o Frequency range 100 GHz .. 10 THz, wavelengths 3 mm .. 30 µm
o Also known as far-infrared or sub-millimeter waves
o Non-ionizing, but penetrates clothing, paper, cardboard, plastics, …
o Absorbed by water and many organic substances
o High chemical sensitivity
- Applications:
o THz technology shows promise for biomedical uses, offering potential for new diagnostic and therapeutic tools in medicine.
o THz technology is used in molecular line spectroscopy for studying molecular motion and interactions, particularly in astrophysics and planetary science.
o THz waves help analyze quantum effects and molecular behavior in celestial bodies.
o THz waves are applied to understand geological and planetary processes by studying molecular dynamics.
- Impact: THz radiation has been observed to affect the nervous system, including changes in nerve cell membrane structures, gene expression, and cytokine levels.
