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Title: Filling the THz Gap - High Power Sources and Applications

Journal Article · · Reports on Progress in Physics

Electromagnetic waves centered at a frequency of 1 THz lie between photonics on the one hand and electronics on the other, and are very hard to generate and detect. However, since the THz part of the spectrum is energetically equivalent to many important physical, chemical and biological processes including superconducting gaps and protein dynamical processes, it is of great interest to facilitate experimental research in this region. This has stimulated major steps in the past decade for filling this gap in the usable spectrum. In this review paper we describe the evolution of a new generation of sources that boost the average power available in the THz region by more than a million-fold, making this region routinely accessible for the first time. This is achieved using two enhancement factors, namely relativistic electrons and super-radiance. We will also point to the scientific potential for discovery that is now enabled in this region.

Research Organization:
Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF), Newport News, VA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE - Office of Energy Research (ER)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84ER40150
OSTI ID:
882457
Report Number(s):
JLAB-ACT-05-355; DOE/ER/40150-3877; RPPHAG; TRN: US200614%%93
Journal Information:
Reports on Progress in Physics, Vol. 69; ISSN 0034-4885
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English