Terahertz as a Frontier Area for Science and Technology

Recent theoretical and experimental research is triggering interest to technologies based on radiation in the region from ~0.1 to 20 Terahertz (THz). Today, this region of the electromagnetic (e.m.) spectrum is a frontier area for research in many disciplines. The technological roadmap of the THz radiation considers outdoor and indoor communications, security, drug detection, biometrics, food quality control, agriculture, medicine, semiconductors, and air pollution, and demands high-power and sub-ps compact sources, modern detectors, and new integrated systems. There are still many open questions regarding working at THz frequencies and with THz radiation. In particular, we need to invest in new methodologies and in materials exhibiting the unusual or exotic properties of THz. This book contains original papers dealing with some emerging THz applications, new devices, sources and detectors, and materials with advanced properties for applications in biomedicine, cultural heritage, technology, and space.

Nanostructured Electromagnetic Metamaterials for Sensing Applications

Metamaterials are novel artificial materials with periodic arrangement of structural meta-atoms which exhibit unique properties. Field localization and enhancement at the surface of the meta-atoms allow the structure to be an effective tool for sensing applications. This chapter discusses the emerging field of nanostructured electromagnetic metamaterials in sensing applications. The first section introduces nanostructured metamaterials based on their structures, properties, and fabrication techniques. The following section encompasses the applications of metamaterial-based nano-sensors in medicine and food science. For biomedical sensing, the applications of metamaterial-based nano biosensors in medical field are highlighted. For food science sensing, the applications of nano metamaterials in food contamination detection and food quality control are discussed. The last section discusses the future trends of nanostructured metamaterials in shifting towards reconfigurable, controllable, and multi-functional meta-devices.