Graphene amplifier taps into elusive terahertz gap

Sitting between microwaves and infrared in the frequency spectrum, THz waves – or T-rays, have so far not been exploited by science due to their low energy. This led to a problem known in scientific circles as the terahertz gap. The new device enables the detection and amplification of the elusive waves and could potentially open up brand new technologies in medicine, cosmology, telecoms and satellites.

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It consists of a new type of optical transistor – a working THz amplifier – using graphene and a high-temperature superconductor. When the THz radiation hits the graphene outer layer, the trapped particles inside attach themselves to the outgoing waves giving them more power and energy than they arrived with - amplifying the signal.

“The device has a very simple structure, consisting of two layers of graphene and superconductor, forming a sandwich,” said Professor Fedor Kusmartsev, from Loughborough’s Department of Physics.