An efficient source of terahertz radiation has the potential to improve characterization methods for drugs, proteins and bacteria, enable ultra-fast wireless data transfer over short distances for use in “smart factories”, and offer enhanced detection capabilities with the ability to see through packaging. However, terahertz light is particularly difficult to produce, and existing sources remain too bulky and power-hungry for widespread application.
We are working to develop more compact and efficient terahertz light sources using polaritons – hybrid particles consisting of a photon coupled strongly with a material excitation. This approach utilizes a plethora of quantum phenomena, from trapped photons, to quasiparticles, to Bose-Einstein condensation. By exploiting these unconventional effects we hope to pave the way towards a long-awaited practical source of terahertz light.
