Method of local electro-magnetic field enhancement of terahertz (THZ) radiation in sub-wavelength regions and improved coupling of radiation to materials through the use of the discontinuity edge effect

US8525115B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• University of Virginia Patent Foundation · US

Inventors

• Boris Gelmont · Charlottesville, US
• Tatiana Globus · Charlottesville, US
• Nathan Swami · Charlottesville, US
• Robert M. Weikle, II · Crozet, US
• Arthur Weston Lichtenberger · Charlottesville, US
• Ramakrishnan Parthasarathy · Houston, US
• Alexei Bykhovski · Raleigh, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 1, 2012
• Grant date: Sep 3, 2013
• Expiry date: Aug 1, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N21/3563
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for enhanced THz radiation coupling to molecules, includes the steps of depositing a test material near the discontinuity edges of a slotted member, and enhancing the THz radiation by transmitting THz radiation through the slots. The molecules of the test material are illuminated by the enhanced THz radiation that has been transmitted through the slots, thereby producing an increased coupling of EM radiation in the THz spectral range to said material. The molecules can be bio-molecules, explosive materials, or species of organisms. The slotted member can be a semiconductor film, a metallic film, in particular InSb, or layers thereof. THz detectors sense near field THz radiation that has been transmitted through said slots and the test material.