The 2023 terahertz science and technology roadmap
Abstract
Terahertz (THz) radiation encompasses a wide spectral range within the electromagnetic spectrum that extends from microwaves to the far infrared (100 GHz–∼30 THz). Within its frequency boundaries exist a broad variety of scientific disciplines that have presented, and continue to present, technical challenges to researchers. During the past 50 years, for instance, the demands of the scientific community have substantially evolved and with a need for advanced instrumentation to support radio astronomy, Earth observation, weather forecasting, security imaging, telecommunications, non-destructive device testing and much more. Furthermore, applications have required an emergence of technology from the laboratory environment to production-scale supply and in-the-field deployments ranging from harsh ground-based locations to deep space. In addressing these requirements, the research and development community has advanced related technology and bridged the transition between electronics and photonics that high frequency operation demands. The multidisciplinary nature of THz work was our stimulus for creating the 2017 THz Science and Technology Roadmap (Dhillon et al 2017 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 50 043001). As one might envisage, though, there remains much to explore both scientifically and technically and the field has continued to develop and expand rapidly. It is timely, therefore, to revise our previous roadmap and in this 2023 version we both provide an update on key developments in established technical areas that have important scientific and public benefit, and highlight new and emerging areas that show particular promise. The developments that we describe thus span from fundamental scientific research, such as THz astronomy and the emergent area of THz quantum optics, to highly applied and commercially and societally impactful subjects that include 6G THz communications, medical imaging, and climate monitoring and prediction. Our Roadmap vision draws upon the expertise and perspective of multiple international specialists that together provide an overview of past developments and the likely challenges facing the field of THz science and technology in future decades. The document is written in a form that is accessible to policy makers who wish to gain an overview of the current state of the THz art, and for the non-specialist and curious who wish to understand available technology and challenges. A such, our experts deliver a ‘snapshot’ introduction to the current status of the field and provide suggestions for exciting future technical development directions. Ultimately, we intend the Roadmap to portray the advantages and benefits of the THz domain and to stimulate further exploration of the field in support of scientific research and commercial realisation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Apr 05, 2023
- Source ID
- 10.1088/1361-6463/acbe4c
Entities
People
- Alexander Davies
- Alfred Leitenstorfer
- Andrea G. Markelz
- Andrey S. Moskalenko
- Axel Zeitler
- Binbin Zhou
- Brian N Ellison
- Cameron M. Hough
- Chong Li
- Christopher Walker
- Cyril C Renaud
- David Leisawitz
- Dmitry Turchinovich
- Don Arnone
- Dragan Mihailovic
- Edmund Linfield
- Emma Pickwell-MacPherson
- Enrique Castro-Camus
- Gintaras Valusis
- Hannah J Joyce
- Ingmar Kallfass
- J. R. Gao
- Jeffrey Hesler
- Jessica Boland
- John E. Cunningham
- Junichiro Kono
- Ki-Yong Kim
- Koichiro Tanaka
- Kun Peng
- Martina Havenith
- Masayoshi Tonouchi
- Matthias C. Hoffmann
- Michael B Johnston
- Miriam S. Vitiello
- Naser Qureshi
- Nick Ridler
- Oleg Mitrofanov
- Paul Dean
- Pernille Klarskov
- Peter G Huggard
- Peter Uhd Jepsen
- Qing Chen
- Roger A. Lewis
- Rupert Huber
- Simon P Rea
- Sukhdeep Dhillon
- Tadao Nagatsuma
- Tobias Kampfrath
- Tom Seifert
- Vincent P Wallace
- Willie J. Padilla
- Xi-Cheng Zhang
- Xiaobang Shang
- Yaroslav A Gerasimenko
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
- Army Research Office
- Australian Government
- Australian Research Council
- Cancer Research UK
- Danish National Research Foundation
- EU Business School
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- European Commission
- European Research Council
- German Research Foundation
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
- Leverhulme Trust
- National Autonomous University of Mexico
- National Research Foundation
- National Science Foundation
- Royal Society
- UK Research and Innovation
- United States Department of Energy
- University of Warwick
- Velux Foundation