a Group of St. Petersburg for the first time physicists were able to synthesize the hyperbolic material for the terahertz frequency range. It will allow you to create highly sensitive detectors and can be widely applied in radio astronomy to build a special telescope that studies black holes.
The research team includes scientists from ITMO University and Rostov state pedagogical University named after Herzen, the work conducted under the grant of Russian scientific Fund.
As reported the press service of the ITMO in the framework of the research physicists were the first to synthesize the hyperbolic material for the terahertz range of frequencies.
Telescopes, exploring black holes, are in the range of 100-300 GHz.
Generally, research in the terahertz range, are held in many areas.
the frequency Spectrum of the terahertz band is located between infrared and high frequency ranges. This range is also called submillimeter, it is used, for example, in airports to scan Luggage and people. Different kinds of spectrometers used in medicine, for example, in the diagnosis of cancer.
Research in this area has just begun. Most often for the correct data uses semiconductor detectors they are cooled to the temperature of liquid helium, it complicates research. Science needs instrument base, in particular, from researchers there is a request for a compact detector that could be used in any laboratory, but it is important that the instrument was highly accurate, fast and compact.
to Solve this difficult task came from the St. Petersburg scientists. They synthesized a new material based on molybdenum with bismuth coating. He is very thin – the plate thickness was 17 micrometers, which is several times thinner than a human hair. The peculiarity of the material in that it exhibits the properties of the hyperbolic medium, the special effects, which are not present in standard optical materials. For example, hyperbolic environment allows to obtain a negative index of refraction.
This means that through the material and radiation in the terahertz range is faster than through the air. About such properties of materials scientists know a lot in theory, but in practice to create a hyperbolic medium for the terahertz range to anyone in the world not previously possible.
the New material has great potential for the use from medicine to long-distance space exploration.
Scientists intend to begin to create a prototype of the first super-detector operating in the terahertz study in July. The first results of their research published in the journal Rapid Research Letters.
