THz waveguides and microfluidics

Various biological substances have characteristic resonances in the THz frequency range. As a consequence, the investigation of suitable measurement approaches is of great interest. Especially for substances with water content, the water absorption has a major impact on any measurement in the THz range. By utilizing waveguides in combination with microfluidic channels, the interaction between the electromagnetic fields and the sample can be controlled potentially enabling characterization of fluid samples. For this purpose, we utilize a free beam CW THz setup, providing a frequency range from 0.1 to 1.2 THz as shown in the figure. This setup is also used for the measurement of contaminated plant leaves (see Heavy metals in plant leaves).