Applying THz Technology in Life Science

Paper in proceedings, 2014

Bio-molecules, due to their structure and size, have vibrational and rotational resonances at THz frequencies (0.1 to 10 THz) [1]. This unique interaction promises a multitude of applications in life sciences, wherein the latest development of THz sources and detectors has enabled this field of research to grow. Although being at an early and mostly exploratory stage of development, this field is riddled with many challenges that should be overcome; measurements of inhomogeneous media, short interaction lengths with few molecules, strong water absorption, and also the cultural gap between medical and engineering communities. In this work we present our preliminary results for three experiments within this field.