EMU: Acquisition of a Fast, Versatile and Compact Time-Domain Terahertz Platform for Spectroscopy and Imaging Applications

• Grant number: 23/16742-8
• Support Opportunities: Research Infrastructure Program - Small Medium Sized
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Felix Guillermo Gonzalez Hernandez
• Grantee: Felix Guillermo Gonzalez Hernandez
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Ariano De Giovanni Rodrigues ; Francisco Carlos Barbosa Maia ; Iouri Poussep ; Raul de Oliveira Freitas

Abstract

The terahertz band of the electromagnetic spectrum (1 THz ~ 4.1 meV) covers a range from 100 GHz (3 mm of wavelength) to 10 THz (30 µm). This technologically challenging area, situated between the realms of electronics and optics, remained unexplored until the emergence of affordable sources and the introduction of THz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). Since then, THz-TDS has evolved into an indispensable tool for the study of fundamental excitations in condensed matter, quantifying the complex refractive index, permittivity, and optical conductivity. As a result, it has deepened the understanding of physics, chemistry, and biology by providing invaluable insights into phenomena that were previously challenging to investigate. On the practical side, this technique has proven invaluable in diverse fields, ranging from the preservation of artistic heritage to industrial quality control. With its exceptional ability to enable precise and non-destructive examination of various materials, THz-TDS plays a pivotal role in medical and biomedical research, facilitating sensitive and non-invasive detection of changes in biological tissues and medically significant materials.The THz-TDS platform requested in this project is compact, rapid, and versatile, easily transportable and adaptable to optical tables for complex experiments in various research centers. This includes experiments conducted under low temperatures, high magnetic fields, and with other light sources. Moreover, the platform is compatible with near-field microscopes, ensuring high spatial resolution. Additionally, with the incorporation of sample scanning or detection accessories, this platform can be transformed into an ideal tool for imaging in various industrial applications, which are still absent in our country. Therefore, the requested equipment promises to have a profound impact on fundamental scientific research and offers numerous opportunities for revolutionary innovations in industrial applications. A search in FAPESP's virtual library using the terms "THz" or "terahertz spectroscopy" underscores the growing interest in recent years, marked by an increase in large grants and scholarships at all academic levels across various fields of knowledge and engineering. This trend strengthens the call for the establishment of multi-user infrastructure for THz-TDS. The project enjoys the support of researchers from THz research centers in the state of São Paulo and suggests the potential involvement of an even larger number of researchers who can benefit from this technology in other centers and industries. (AU)