THz and Mid Infrared (TERA-MIR) semiconductor materials: From microscopic theory to industrial applications

The author discusses the main goals and recent achievements of MPNS COST ACTION MP1204, TERA-MIR Radiation: Materials, Generation, Detection and Applications, whose main objectives are to advance novel materials, concepts and device designs for generating and detecting THz and Mid Infrared radiation using semiconductor, superconductor, metamaterials and lasers and to beneficially exploit their common aspects within a synergetic approach. The unique networking and capacity-building capabilities provided by the COST framework are used to unify these two spectral domains from their common aspects of sources, detectors, materials and applications. A platform is developed to investigate the interdisciplinary topics in Physics, Electrical Engineering and Technology, Applied Chemistry, Materials Sciences and Biology and Radio Astronomy. The main emphasis is on new fundamental material properties, concepts and device designs that are likely to open the way to new products or to the exploitation of new technologies in the fields of sensing, healthcare, biology, and industrial applications.