THz Phenomena and Technology

4.0 credits

Terahertz (THz) technology and applications provides the fundamentals of free-space THz photonics for sensing, imaging and spectroscopy applications. A free-space THz-ray optoelectronic system, with diffraction-limited spatial resolution, femtosecond temporal resolution, DC-THz spectral bandwidth, and mV/cm field sensitivity, will be central to the course. We will cover the basic concepts of generation, detection and propagation of T-rays, and their applications. Students will learn most advanced THz technology. Modern methods include THz time-domain spectroscopy, optical rectification, electro-optic sampling, THz gas laser, Gunn diodes and Schottky diodes, and FTIR. Many newly developed THz systems at Rochester will be the examples used in this course. Ultrafast THz Phenomena session also covers the methods for optical measurement with short laser pulses. Short laser pulse generation, amplification, detection, and characterization will be discussed.