{"id":24377,"date":"2016-10-18T00:06:59","date_gmt":"2016-10-17T18:36:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yaabot.com\/?p=24377"},"modified":"2024-02-28T13:41:34","modified_gmt":"2024-02-28T08:11:34","slug":"can-you-now-judge-the-book-through-its-cover","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entropymag.co\/can-you-now-judge-the-book-through-its-cover\/","title":{"rendered":"Terahertz Radiation: Science Can Now Judge A Book Through Its Cover"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Ever read the synopsis of a book wrapped in a transparent cover and wished you could glance through the prologue to get a better insight into the book? Many\u00a0of us have been tempted to open the books and read a few pages before buying. If it isn’t allowed in your favorite bookstore, fret not! MIT researchers and their colleagues have designed a prototype using terahertz radiation<\/span> that could read closed books.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n In September 2016, a team of researchers at MIT published a paper in Nature Communications, describing a prototype imaging device they had developed. To put it in layman terms, it can be visualized as a camera that can read closed books. Based on technology exploiting terahertz radiation, the imaging device can extract content through densely layered structures such as a closed book.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n In the world of physics, terahertz(THz)<\/span><\/span> radiation refers to electromagnetic waves, propagating at frequencies in the terahertz range i.e. frequencies between high-frequency edge of the microwave band (300 gigahertz) and the long-wavelength edge of far-infrared light (3000 GHz). Terahertz radiation, synonymous to sub-millimeter radiation or T-light has directive similar to laser light and can be transmitted through a variety of materials like ceramics, wood, plastics, paper and textiles. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Given these characteristics, terahertz radiation with a wavelength of hundreds of micrometers can produce images with a resolution similar to that of the images viewed by a human eye under visible light, when the waves are detected in two or three dimensions after being reflected by or transmitted through the target object. This also enables one to use terahertz radiation to analyze the internal structure of materials like wood and plastics. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Terahertz radiation has found its applications in a multitude of fields for 3D imaging and detection of the structure of some complex samples. In medical imaging, T-light is used to detect the presence and growth of cancerous tissue. Moreover, since T-rays are non-ionizing in characteristic, no damage is inflicted on tissues or the DNA design. It can also be used to check the water content and density of tissues. Other applications of terahertz radiation are in manufacturing where it is used for quality control and process monitoring, in communication where terahertz radiation is used for high-altitude telecommunications through high and low moisture content in the atmosphere, in security where T-light finds use in surveillance. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite a wide array of applications, terahertz light is most commonly used in imaging and scientific research. Recently developed methods showcase the ability of terahertz radiation to get images of opaque materials (near-infrared range) using methods like THz time-domain spectroscopy and THz tomography.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nHow does Terahertz radiation technology penetrate through a closed book?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n