Abstract
| Although Terahertz (THz) radiation was first observed about hundred years ago, the corresponding portion of the electromagnetic spectrum has been for long time considered a rather poorly explored region at the boundary between the microwaves and the infrared. This situation has changed during the past ten years with the rapid development of coherent THz sources, such as quantum cascade laser, diodes, optically pumped solid state devices and novel free electron devices, which have in turn stimulated a wide variety of applications from material science to telecommunications, from biology to biomedicine. In this paper we review the development and perspectives of THz radiation sources and their applications with particular emphasis on the research effort carried out and planned in the frame of various European programs. |