Terahertz radiation refers to the electromagnetic radiation area with frequency from 0. 1 THz to1THz and wavelength between millimeter wave and infrared ray. One terahertz equals one trillion hertz.
The German Electron Synchrotron Research Institute reported that intense terahertz radiation can cause water molecules to vibrate violently and destroy hydrogen bonds between water molecules. This method can heat about one nanoliter (one billionth liter) of water to 600 degrees Celsius in half a picosecond (one picosecond is one trillionth of a second).
The report points out that one liter of water is enough for many experiments, although it doesn't sound much. One picosecond is much faster than the blink of an eye, so this method of boiling water can be called the fastest so far.
Although this "boiling water" method has not been put into practice, researchers say that water plays an important role in many chemical and biological processes, and new discoveries may provide more experimental possibilities for chemical and biological fields. Academician Du Xiangwan of China Academy of Engineering pointed out that among all physical technologies, electromagnetic wave technology plays a particularly prominent role in promoting medicine. Since 190 1 year X-ray won the first Nobel Prize in physics, five Nobel Prizes related to biomedicine have been awarded to the field of X-ray spectroscopy technology.
In the application of terahertz technology in biomedicine, the interaction between biomacromolecules is the key cause of major life phenomena and diseases, and terahertz photon energy covers the energy level range of spatial conformation of biomacromolecules. This frequency band contains important information such as spatial conformation that directly represents the function of biological macromolecules, which cannot be detected by other electromagnetic waves. Therefore, we can develop a new theory and technology, use terahertz waves to detect and intervene the interaction process of biological macromolecules, and provide advanced technical means for the diagnosis and effective intervention of major diseases at present.
Li Zeren, a researcher at the Institute of Fluid Physics, China Academy of Engineering Physics, also said that with the strong support of key technologies and equipment such as terahertz sources, detectors and imaging systems, China has basically possessed the foundation for terahertz biomedical research. In addition, terahertz is also widely used in the study of properties of semiconductor materials and high temperature superconducting materials. Studying this frequency band will not only promote the great development of theoretical research, but also pose great challenges to solid-state electronics and circuit technology.
At present, generally speaking, the research of terahertz technology mainly focuses on three parts: terahertz generation source, terahertz detection and application research. At present, the biggest difficulty is that there is no high-power portable and continuously adjustable THz radiator and filter with low cost and practical requirements, and there is no passive detector that can directly detect THz rays at room temperature.