What is Terahertz Spectroscopy?
Terahertz spectroscopy is vibrational (and sometimes rotational) spectroscopy in the far-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum between the mid-infrared and microwave regions. We generally consider the THz region as spanning 0.1 to 6 THz. There are a variety of units used to describe THz radiation but these relationships are most useful: 1 THz ≈ 33.33 cm-1 ≈ 300 micrometers. Therefore, in terms of wavenumber units, our experimental range is 3 to 200 cm-1 and in terms of wavelength, 3 mm to 50 micrometers. The types of molecular motions that are probed with THz radiation are global motions involving the entire structure. Terahertz spectroscopy offers a unique method for directly mapping the conformational landscapes of flexible molecules and clusters. In particular, torsional vibrations and hydrogen-bond bending and stretching are the subjects of research projects in the Korter laboratory. We utilize THz spectroscopy to construct the intramolecular and intermolecular potential
