Terahertz Biomedical Science and Technology

This book focuses on biomedical applications of terahertz (THz) waves. THz waves offer advantages due to their low energy (greater safety), long wavelength (less scattering), and sensitivity to water molecules. The book explores the use of THz spectroscopy in elucidating biological behaviors as well as the development of THz wave medical techniques, such as skin drug absorption imaging and cancer diagnosis. It also includes an overview of THz technology, encompassing generation, detection, and imaging methods.

A number of applications including scientific spectroscopy, security screening, and medical imaging have benefitted from the development and utilization of new and emerging terahertz (THz) generation and detection techniques. Exploring recent discoveries and the advancements of biological behaviors through THz spectroscopy and imaging and the development of THz medical techniques, Terahertz Biomedical Science and Technology contains contributions from scientists and researchers in the terahertz biomedical field and is exclusively dedicated to new and emerging terahertz biomedical research and applications.

This text offers an assessment of terahertz technology, and provides a compilation of fundamental biological studies conducted using terahertz waves. It introduces THz electromagnetic waves as a new tool for convergent studies, includes laser-based generation techniques and solid-state devices, contains a number of detectors, and discusses high-field generation methods. The material covers recent advancements in terahertz imaging for medical applications—most specifically in cancer diagnosis—reviewing the current status of the THz imaging technique for diagnosing cancers, and exploring the potential medical applications of THz radiation. It also considers the development of future medical applications using terahertz technology.

• Summarizes the recent progress made in THz waveguides, which are absolutely essential in the development of THz endoscopes
• Describes the dynamic imaging of drug absorption in skin, exploiting the sensitivity of THz waves to pharmaceutical materials
• Explores the principle and applications of THz molecular imaging techniques using nanoparticle probes

Scientists and engineers involved in biological research and medical applications using optical techniques, as well as graduate students and instructors in optics, physics, electrical engineering, biology, chemistry, and medicine can benefit from this text which highlights new and emerging biomedical studies utilizing novel THz wave techniques.