THz and IR detectors in applications : (Invited)

Abstract

The THz and IR technologies gave the possibility to get information in regions of electromagnetic spectra, which are inaccessible to human visual perception. Recent progress in applying THz and IR technologies to different domains of human activity was possible due to the development of high performance THz detectors (e.g., in astronomy-cosmic microwave background and interstellar matter formation, high resolution molecular spectroscopy; detectors and sources for active imaging, high speed and broadband communications, biomedical applications, surveillance, identification of hazardous chemicals, etc.). However, with the complexity of high sensitive uncooled or slightly cooled detectors and complexity of handheld or, at least portable, THz sources, this validates yet the difficulties of THz radiations technologies to ensure market penetration with THz systems for cost-effective civil applications. For short-range THz communication technique in environmental Earth conditions, one can notice the development of active silicon photonics integrated technologies.