Abstract
We give a brief review of the developments in terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) systems and micro-cavity components for probing samples in the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology. The broadband terahertz (THz) radiation sources based on GaAs m-i-n diodes have been investigated by applying high electric fields. Then, the free space THz-TDS and fiber-coupled THz-TDS systems produced in our lab and their applications in drug/cancer detection are introduced in detail. To further improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and enhance sensitivity, we introduce three general micro-cavity approaches to achieve tiny-volume sample detection, summarizing our previous results about their characteristics, performance, and potential applications.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Auston DH, Cheung KP, Smith PR, 1984. Picosecond photoconducting Hertzian dipoles. Appl Phys Lett, 45(3):284–286. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.95174
Auston DN, Cheung KP, Valdmanis JA, et al., 1984. Cherenkov radiation from femtosecond optical pulses in electro-optic media. Phys Rev Lett, 53(16):1555–1558. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.53.1555
Bertero NM, Trasarti AF, Apesteguía CR, et al. 2011. Solvent effect in the liquid-phase hydrogenation of acetophenone over Ni/SiO2: a comprehensive study of the phenomenon. Appl Catal A, 394(1–2):228–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcata.2011.01.003
Biber S, Hofmann A, Shulz R, et al., 2004. Design and measurement of a bandpass filter at 300 GHz based on a highly efficient binary grating. IEEE Trans Microw Theory Tech, 52(9):2183–2189. https://doi.org/10.1109/TMTT.2004.834159
Bodrov SB, Stepanov AN, Bakunov MI, et al., 2009. Highly efficient optical-to-terahertz conversion in a sandwich structure with LiNbO3 core. Opt Expr, 17(3):1871–1879. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.17.001871
Carbajo S, Schulte J, Wu XJ, et al., 2015. Efficient narrowband terahertz generation in cryogenically cooled periodically poled lithium niobate. Opt Lett, 40(24):5762–5765. https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.40.005762
Chen L, Cao ZQ, Ou F, et al., 2007. Observation of large positive and negative lateral shifts of a reflected beam from symmetrical metal-cladding waveguides. Opt Lett, 32(11):1432–1434. https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.32.001432
Chen L, Zhu YM, Zang XF, et al., 2013a. Mode splitting transmission effect of surface wave excitation through a metal hole array. Light Sci Appl, 2(3):e60. https://doi.org/10.1038/lsa.2013.16
Chen L, Gao CM, Xu JM, et al., 2013b. Observation of electromagnetically induced transparency-like transmission in terahertz asymmetric waveguide-cavities systems. Opt Lett, 38(9):1379–1381. https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.38.001379
Chen L, Xu JM, Gao CM, et al., 2013c. Manipulating terahertz electromagnetic induced transparency through parallel plate waveguide cavities. Appl Phys Lett, 103(25):251105. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4852115
Chen L, Truong KV, Cheng ZX, et al., 2014a. Characterization of photonic bands in metal photonic crystal slabs. Opt Commun, 333:232–236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optcom.2014.07.045
Chen L, Cheng ZX, Xu JM, et al., 2014b. Controllable multiband terahertz notch filter based on a parallel plate waveguide with a single deep groove. Opt Lett, 39(15): 4541–4544. https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.39.004541
Chen L, Wei YM, Zang XF, et al., 2016. Excitation of dark multipolar plasmonic resonances at terahertz frequencies. Sci Rep, 6:22027. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep22027
Chen L, Xu NN, Singh L, et al., 2017. Defect-induced fano resonances in corrugated plasmonic metamaterials. Adv Opt Mater, 5(8):1600960. https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.201600960
Chen WQ, Peng Y, Jiang XK, et al., 2017. Isomers identification of 2-hydroxyglutarate acid disodium salt (2HG) by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. Sci Rep, 7:12166. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-11527-z
Cong LQ, Manjappa M, Xu NN, et al., 2015. Fano resonances in terahertz metasurfaces: a figure of merit optimization. Adv Opt Mater, 3(11):1537–1543. https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.201500207
Consolino L, Taschin A, Bartolini P, et al., 2012. Phase-locking to a free-space terahertz comb for metrological-grade terahertz lasers. Nat Commun, 3:1040. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms2048
DeFonzo AP, Jarwala M, Lutz CR, 1987. Transient response of planar integrated optoelectronic antennas. Appl Phys Lett, 50(17):1155–1157. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.97947
Degl’Innocenti R, Wallis R, Wei BB, et al., 2017. Terahertz nanoscopy of plasmonic resonances with a quantum cascade laser. ACS Photon, 4(9):2150–2157. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.7b00687
Dorney TD, Baraniuk RG, Mittleman DM, 2001. Material parameter estimation with terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. J Opt Soc Am A, 18(7):1562–1571. https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSAA.18.001562
Du SQ, Li H, Xie L, et al., 2012. Vibrational frequencies of anti-diabetic drug studied by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. Appl Phys Lett, 100(14):143702. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3700808
Ebbesen TW, Lezec HJ, Ghaemi HF, et al., 1998. Extraordinary optical transmission through sub-wavelength hole arrays. Nature, 391(12):667–669. https://doi.org/10.1038/35570
Fattinger C, Grischkowsky D, 1988. Point source terahertz optics. Appl Phys Lett, 53(16):1480–1482. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.99971
Federici J, Moeller L, 2010. Review of terahertz and subterahertz wireless communications. J Appl Phys, 107(11): 111101. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3386413
Ferguson B, Zhang XC, 2002. Materials for terahertz science and technology. Nat Mater, 1:26–33. https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat708
Ferguson B, Wang SH, Gray D, et al., 2002. T-ray computed tomography. Opt Lett, 27(15):1312–1314. https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.27.001312
Ghaemi HF, Thio T, Grupp DE, et al., 1998. Surface plasmons enhance optical transmission through subwavelength holes. Phys Rev B, 58(11):6779–6782. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.58.6779
Grischkowsky G, Keiding S, van Exter M, et al., 1990. Far-infrared time-domain spectroscopy with terahertz beams of dielectrics and semiconductors. J Opt Soc Am B, 7(10):2006–2015. https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSAB.7.002006
Hangyo M, Tani M, Nagashima T, 2006. Terahertz timedomain spectroscopy of solids: a review. Int J Infr Millim Waves, 26(12):1661–1690. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10762-005-0288-1
He JL, Liu PA, He YL, et al., 2012. Narrow bandpass tunable terahertz filter based on photonic crystal cavity. Appl Opt, 51(6):776–779. https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.51.000776
Huang Y, Min CJ, Veronis G, 2011. Subwavelength slow-light waveguides based on a plasmonic analogue of electromagnetically induced transparency. Appl Phys Lett, 99: 143117. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3647951
Johnson C, Low FJ, Davidson AW, 1980. Germanium and germanium diamond bolometers operated at 4.2 K, 2.0 K, 1.2 K, 0.3 K, and 0.1 K. Opt Eng, 19(2):192255. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.7972503
Jones RC, 1947. The ultimate sensitivity of radiation detectors. J Opt Soc Am, 37(11):879–890. https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSA.37.000879
Katzenellenbogen N, Grischkowsky D, 1991. Efficient generation of 380 fs pulses of THz radiation by ultrafast laser pulse excitation of a biased metal-semiconductor interface. Appl Phys Lett, 58(3):222–224. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.104695
Leitenstorfer A, Hunsche S, Shah J, et al., 1999. Femtosecond charge transport in polar semiconductors. Phys Rev Lett, 82(25):5140–5143. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.82.5140
Leitenstorfer A, Hunsche S, Shah J, et al., 2000. Femtosecond high-field transport in compound semiconductors. Phys Rev B, 61(24):16642–16652. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.61.16642
Libon IH, Baumgärtner S, Hempel M, et al., 2000. An optically controllable terahertz filter. Appl Phys Lett, 76(20):2821–2823. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.126484
Liu L, Pathak R, Cheng LJ, et al., 2013. Real-time frequency-domain terahertz sensing and imaging of isopropyl alcohol–water mixtures on a microfluidic chip. Sens Actuat B, 184:228–234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2013.04.008
Lu T, Lee H, Chen T, et al., 2011. High sensitivity nanoparticle detection using optical microcavities. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA, 108(15):5976–5979. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1017962108
Markelz AG, 2008. Terahertz dielectric sensitivity to bio-molecular structure and function. IEEE J Sel Top Quant Electron, 14(1):180–190. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSTQE.2007.913424
Mendis R, Astley V, Liu JB, et al., 2009. Terahertz microfluidic sensor based on a parallel-plate waveguide resonant cavity. Appl Phys Lett, 95(17):171113. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3251079
Miyamaru F, Hangyo M, 2004. Finite size effect of transmission property for metal hole arrays in subterahertz region. Appl Phys Lett, 84(15):2742–2744. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1702125
Miyamaru F, Hayashi S, Otani C, et al., 2006. Terahertz surface-wave resonant sensor with a metal hole array. Opt Lett, 31(8):1118–1120. https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.31.001118
O’Hara JF, Singh R, Brener I, et al., 2008. Thin-film sensing with planar terahertz metamaterials: sensitivity and limitations. Opt Expr, 16(3):1786–1795. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.16.001786
Planken PCM, Nienhuys HK, Bakker HJ, et al., 2001. Measurement and calculation of the orientation dependence of terahertz pulse detection in ZnTe. J Opt Soc Am B, 18(3): 313–317. https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSAB.18.000313
Por A, Moreno E, Martin-Moreno L, et al., 2012. Localized spoof plasmons arise while texturing closed surfaces. Phys Rev Lett, 108(22):223905. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.223905
Pupeza I, Wilk R, Koch M, 2007. Highly accurate optical material parameter determination with THz time-domain spectroscopy. Opt Expr, 15(7):4335–4350. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.15.004335
Qu DX, Grischkowsky D, Zhang WL, 2004. Terahertz transmission properties of thin, subwavelength metallic hole arrays. Opt Lett, 29(8):896–898. https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.29.000896
Shen XP, Cui TJ, 2014. Ultrathin plasmonic metamaterial for spoof localized surface plasmons. Laser Photon Rev, 8(1):137–145. https://doi.org/10.1002/lpor.201300144
Siegel PH, 2002. Terahertz technology. IEEE Trans Microw Theory Tech, 50(3):910–928. https://doi.org/10.1109/22.989974
Staus C, Kuech T, McCaughan L, 2008. Continuously phase-matched terahertz difference frequency generation in an embedded-waveguide structure supporting only fundamental modes. Opt Expr, 16(17):13296–13303. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.16.013296
Su YY, 2014. Investigation of liquid monohydric alcohols by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. Opt Instrum, 36(6): 499–503 (in Chinese). https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1005-5630.2014.06.007
Theuer M, Beigang R, Grischkowsky D, 2010a. Highly sensitive terahertz measurement of layer thickness using a two-cylinder waveguide sensor. Appl Phys Lett, 97(7): 071106. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3481080
Theuer M, Beigang R, Grischkowsky D, 2010b. Sensitivity increase for coating thickness determination using THz waveguides. Opt Expr, 18(11):11456–11463. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.18.011456
Wang DN, Chen L, Fang B, et al., 2017. Spoof localized surface plasmons excited by plasmonic waveguide chip with corrugated disk resonator. Plasmonics, 12(4):947–952. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11468-016-0337-8
Wang YX, Zhang GW, Qiao LB, et al., 2014. Photocurrent response of carbon nanotube-metal heterojunctions in the terahertz range. Opt Expr, 22(5):5895–5903. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.22.005895
Wang YX, Deng XQ, Zhang GW, et al., 2015. Terahertz photodetector based on double-walled carbon nanotube macrobundle-metal contacts. Opt Expr, 23(10):13348–13357. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.23.013348
Withayachumnankul W, O’Hara JF, Cao W, et al., 2014. Limitation in thin-film sensing with transmission-mode terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. Opt Expr, 22(1): 972–986. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.22.000972
Wu DM, Fang N, Sun C, et al., 2003. Terahertz plasmonic high pass filter. Appl Phys Lett, 83(1):201–203. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1591083
Wu Q, Zhang XC, 1997a. Free-space electro-optics sampling of mid-infrared pulses. Appl Phys Lett, 71(10):1285–1286. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.119873
Wu Q, Zhang XC, 1997b. 7 terahertz broadband GaP electro-optic sensor. Appl Phys Lett, 70(14):1784–1786. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.118691
Xu JM, Chen L, Xie L, et al., 2013a. Effect of boundary condition and periodical extension on transmission characteristics of terahertz filters with periodical hole array structure fabricated on aluminum slab. Plasmonics, 8(3):1293–1297. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11468-013-9517-y
Xu JM, Chen L, Zang XF, et al., 2013b. Triple-channel terahertz filter based on mode coupling of cavities resonance system. Appl Phys Lett, 103(16):161116. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4826456
Yomogida Y, Sato Y, Nozaki R, et al., 2010. Comparative dielectric study of monohydric alcohols with terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. J Mol Struc, 981(1–3):173–178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2010.08.002
Zang XF, Shi C, Chen L, et al., 2015. Ultra-broadband terahertz absorption by exciting the orthogonal diffraction in dumbbell-shaped gratings. Sci Rep, 5:8901. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep08901
Zhao G, Schouten RN, van der Valk N, et al., 2002. Design and performance of a THz emission and detection setup based on a semi-insulating GaAs emitter. Rev Sci Instrum, 73(4): 1715–1719. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1459095
Zhu YM, Unuma T, Shibata K, et al., 2008a. Femtosecond acceleration of electrons under high electric fields in bulk GaAs investigated by time-domain terahertz spectroscopy. Appl Phys Lett, 93(4):042116–042118. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2967857
Zhu YM, Unuma T, Shibata K, et al., 2008b. Power dissipation spectra and terahertz intervalley transfer gain in bulk GaAs under high electric fields. Appl Phys Lett, 93(23): 232102. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3039069
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Project supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2018YFF01013003), the Program of Shanghai Pujiang Program, China (No. 17PJD028), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 61671302, 61601291, and 61722111), the Shuguang Program supported by the Shanghai Education Development Foundation and Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, China (No. 18SG44), the Key Scientific and Technological Project of Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, China (No. 15DZ0500102), the Shanghai Leading Talent, China (No. 2016-019), and the Young Yangtse Rive Scholar, China (No. Q2016212)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chen, L., Liao, Dg., Guo, Xg. et al. Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy and micro-cavity components for probing samples: a review. Frontiers Inf Technol Electronic Eng 20, 591–607 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1631/FITEE.1800633
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1631/FITEE.1800633
Key words
- Terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopy
- Micro-cavity
- Metal holes array
- Waveguide cavities
- Spoof localized surface plasmons (LSPs)