Development of a Waveguide-Coupled Broadband Terahertz Spectrometer

William Marsh Rice University, Houston TX

Investigators

Abstract

With support from the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities - Instrument Development (CRIF-ID) Program, Daniel M. Mittleman in the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice University will develop a terahertz spectrometer that combines the many useful capabilities of time-domain spectroscopy with the ease of use and reliability of a commercial FTIR system. The PI will develop waveguide techniques that are useful for broadband coherent terahertz radiation. The waveguide-coupled broadband terahertz spectrometer will enable many types of measurements that are not now feasible using existing techniques. These advances will also dramatically simplify the use of the spectrometer, and therefore vastly broaden its accessibility to the analytical chemistry community. Waveguides will permit many measurements that are not now feasible, such as those that require access to restricted locations or those that require long interaction lengths. A good example is terahertz endoscopy.