THz Chemical Imaging for Biological Applications

Abstract

THz spectroscopy is advantageous in analytical chemistry because it can detect and identify intermolecular interactions in chemical compounds, such as hydrogen bonds and hydrations, and molecular networks. Recent advances in THz components, such as ultrashort pulsed lasers and photoconductive antennas, have improved the sensitivity of THz time-domain (TDS) spectroscopy and have made the THz chemical imaging possible. THz chemical imaging can reveal hydrogen bond distributions and will be a very powerful tool in biology, pharmacology, and life sciences. THz-TDS is also promising for the quantitative chemical analysis and detection of molecules and clusters in nanospace and ice.