Coherent source terahertz-subterahertz spectroscopy: Instrumentation and physics

Abstract

We describe instrumentation and principles of terahertz-subterahertz (THz-subTHz) spectrometers based on continuously frequency tunable coherent radiation sources-backward-wave oscillators (BWOs). The spectrometers cover frequency range from 1 cm-1 (0.03 THz) to 50 cm-1 (1.5 THz) and operate at temperatures from 2 K to 1000 K, also in magnetic fields up to 8 Tesla. We illustrate abilities of the BWO-spectroscopy by presenting some late results on dielectric, conducting, superconducting and magnetic materials. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.