We explored two ways to enhance light matter interaction in the THz range through spatial confinement of the electric field. Firstly, a broadband metallic waveguide with low losses and low dispersion used in a TDS setup to measure samples with volume as low as 200pL. In this proceeding, we explore a resonant structure allowing for tighter confinement at the price of narrower bandwidth. Split ring resonators are resonant structures analogous to LC circuit, where the electric field is confined in the capacitive part of the device. We fabricated SRRs with capacitive gaps as small as 30nm for measurements on extremely low volume sample such as macromolecules or viruses.
The Terahertz (THz) technology has now reached a level of maturation, which allows its uses beyond its core domains of application (telecom and imaging for security or healthcare). Vibrational spectroscopy in the THz range is employed in various fields and is specifically promising in (μ)biology. Indeed, the probed vibrational states extend over several nanometers and give a signature of the sample 3D structure at the nanoscale. This is particularly salient for macromolecules (proteins, DNA and RNA strands etc.) since, on one hand, their 3D structure is very difficult to probe in physiological condition with other techniques, and on the other hand, this structure determines their function and is consequently of utmost importance for the living. A major hurdle still arises when applying THz spectroscopy on biological or macromolecular samples. The samples are generally smaller than the THz wavelength, which requires concentrating the THz field in the sample. Solutions aimed at tackling this challenge by using μ/nano technology of THz field concentration and a proper data analysis will be presented.
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