Open AccessFrom Terra Incognita to Security Technology
Author(s) -
Deninger Anselm
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
optik & photonik
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2191-1975
pISSN - 1863-1460
DOI - 10.1002/opph.201190064
Subject(s) - terahertz radiation , terahertz gap , electromagnetic spectrum , laser , optoelectronics , optics , engineering , computer science , telecommunications , electrical engineering , materials science , physics , far infrared laser , terahertz metamaterials
Not long ago, the terahertz frequency range was considered the last remaining gap of the electromagnetic spectrum. The main reason was the difficulty of generating intense, directional terahertz radiation. During the past few years, optoelectronic approaches based on modern laser technologies have helped to bridge the “terahertz gap”. This report discusses some of the scenarios in which terahertz technologies are just about to make their industrial entrance — in applications as varied as trace gas detection, process control, and the imaging of airbag safety covers.