Graphene sheds light on terahertz waves

Terahertz waves allow for the detection of materials that are undetectable at other frequencies, but the use of these waves is limited by the absence of suitable devices and materials that control them.

Now, researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), working with the Federal Polytechnic School in Zurich (ETHZ) and two Spanish research teams, have overcome this limitation with a technique that paves the way for a practical use of terahertz waves, in particular for imaging and telecommunications. The work is described in Nature Communications.

"The interaction between terahertz radiation and the electrons in graphene is very strong and we have therefore come to the hypothesis that it should be possible to use graphene to manage terahertz waves,” said Alexey Kuzmenko from the Department of Quantum Matter Physics of UNIGE’s Faculty of Sciences.

Working within the framework of the European project Graphene Flagship, the scientists have made a graphene-based transistor adapted to terahertz waves.

“By combining the electrical field, which enables us to control the number of electrons in graphene and thus allows more or less light to pass through, with the magnetic field, which bends the electronic orbits, we have been able to control not just the intensity of the terahertz waves, but also their polarisation,” said Jean-Marie Poumirol, a member of the UNIGE research team and the first author of the study. “It is rare that purely electrical effects are used to control magnetic phenomena.”

The UNIGE researchers plan to move on from the prototype and develop systems that make terahertz waves industrially competitive in the next few years.

Two main areas of application have been identified, the first of which is in communications.

“Using a film of graphene associated with terahertz waves, we should be potentially able to send fully-secured information at speeds of about 10 to 100 times faster than with Wi-Fi or radio waves, and do it securely over short distances,” said Poumirol.

The team has identified imaging as the second main area where their technique could be applied. Being non-ionising, terahertz waves do not alter DNA and therefore are very useful in medicine, biology and pharmacy.

Additionally, the control of the circular polarisation of the terahertz waves will allow distinction between different symmetries of biological molecules, which is an important property in medical applications. Furthermore, the team believes there are potential applications in homeland security.

“Terahertz waves are stopped by metals and are sensitive to plastics and organic matter,” said Kuzmenko. “This could lead to more effective means of detecting firearms, drugs and explosives carried by individuals, and could perhaps serve as a tool to strengthen airport safety.”

The team's paper - Electrically controlled terahertz magneto-optical phenomena in continuous and patterned graphene - can be found in Nature Communications.