Abstract
Weak coupling of THz waves to sub-wavelength size objects makes detection and spectroscopic analysis of small amounts of illicit materials challenging at THz frequencies. THz surface waves can be used to enhance the interaction of the THz wave with small objects and mitigate the weak coupling. We will discuss excitation THz surface waves at metallic edges as well as detection and imaging of THz surface waves using the integrated sub-wavelength aperture THz near-field microscopy method. This near-field probe technology can improve the sensitivity of THz spectroscopy analysis and therefore relax power and sensitivity requirements for THz sources and detectors.
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Acknowledgements
I gratefully acknowledge the contribution of many researchers with whom I have been working over the years on the development and applications of THz near-field microscopy and near-field spectroscopy, including R. Mueckstein, M. Navarro-Cia, C. Graham, M. Natrella, C.C. Renaud, A.J. Seeds, J.A. Harrington, Z. Jiang, W. Pan, I. Brener, J. Reno, P. Kuzel, P. Mounaix and J-C. Delagnes. I also would like to acknowledge the support of the Royal Society and the EPSRC.
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Mitrofanov, O. (2014). Application of Surface Waves for THz Spectroscopy. In: Corsi, C., Sizov, F. (eds) THz and Security Applications. NATO Science for Peace and Security Series B: Physics and Biophysics. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8828-1_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8828-1_7
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