TERA HERTZ RANGE (THR)

Latest Context

Recently, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has asked for stakeholder views on permitting license-exempt operations in the Terahertz band (frequencies above 95 GHz).

About the THR

• THR is a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that lies between millimetre and infrared wavelengths, between 100 GHz and 10 THz.
•  It straddles the line between electronics and photonics. The Terahertz gap (0.3 to 30 THz) is the portion of the frequency spectrum where electrical and photonic technologies do not overlap.
• It is also known as a near-millimeter wave, far-infrared wave, and submillimeter wave.

Properties of THR Penetration

• In comparison to infrared waves, THz waves have less dispersion and deeper penetration.
• Dry, non-metallic materials that are opaque in the visible spectrum are therefore transparent in the thermal range of radiation.
• Resolution: Due to THz waves' shorter wavelengths than those of microwaves, it provides a superior spatial imaging resolution.
• Security: Unlike X-rays, THz radiation does not ionise anything, and its photon energy are considerably lower.

Applications of THz

• space-based communication methods, such as radio astronomy services and the Earth Exploration Satellite Service (EESS).
• Short-range wireless communication.
• applications for security (such as the detection of solid explosive materials).
• body surface diagnostics and biomedical imaging.

Challenges in Developing Technologies for THz Band

• Lack of compact, efficient, coherent, and THz sources.
•  THz waves have significant losses because of the strong air absorption.
• The water molecules' resonance in this region contributes to a significantly greater portion of their signal deterioration.

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