Year

2014

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

School of Physics

Abstract

Terahertz (THz) radiation has remained the least developed part of the electromagnetic spectrum for quite a long time and thus it was traditionally known as the ‘terahertz gap’. The progress of research in this field has been hindered by lack of powerful sources and detectors as compared to both the sources and detectors for the electronic and optical sides of the terahertz radiation region. However, the research on the THz field has intensified in recent years due to a number of emerging interesting technologies and owing to its unique properties. It has several advantages over its counterparts like X-ray and hence it has attracted much interest in a variety of applications scientifically and commercially.

THz work has been recently focused in the low frequency region (0.1-3 THz). This is the region where most of the THz spectral features of many materials lie. Studies in this frequency range have been seen revolutionizing the THz field giving it a pool of potential applications which are still yet to be realized. The low frequency THz region (0.1-3 THz) is accessible through the use of the THz-TDS technique and this technique is the mostly used to date. The value of this method is evident throughout the work published in terahertz research and thus its use prevails over other techniques. Many materials show some spectral features in the much higher frequency region (up to 21 THz), but however this frequency range has not attracted much attention in comparison to the low frequency range which of course is more rich in THz spectral features. Furthermore, although the low frequency THz region has been quite extensively studied, the concentration has been at room temperature with a few temperature-dependence studies mostly done at particular temperatures rather than over a wide range.

FoR codes (2008)

0204 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS

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Unless otherwise indicated, the views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the University of Wollongong.