NEWS
Time to Bridge the Terahertz Gap
Researchers at IMRA turn to THz-capable components in pursuit of a molecular clock that can more accurately measure time, down to the second.
T
he scientific community is striving to bring life to the so-called “dead zone”, a region of the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum between electronics and optics. This band, often referred to as the “terahertz gap”, resides between 100 GHz and 30 THz. Below it lies the microwave bands that are increasingly being consumed by numerous commercial and scientific applications. Above it, infrared devices like thermal imaging, night vision equipment, and fiber-optic transmission and data storage are now common. Within the terahertz technology gap lies a vast reserve of bandwidth poised for development. However, the development of user-friendly technologies capable of generating, manipulating, and detecting radiation within these frequency bands is not only technically challenging but has also been hindered by the limitations of available THz- capable components.
IMRA, was able to overcome many of the issues associated with the THz regime recently when working at frequencies above 300 GHz. Researchers at the Colorado-based laboratory were looking to use molecules as stable frequency references that could potentially be used as clocks.
Advanced Interconnection_CIE 210x130 ad template 13/10/2021 11:31 Page 1
“Let me be clear, we are not redefining the definition of a second,” explains Research Scientist James Greenberg, a program
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MAY 2024 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS
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