On-Chip Sub-Diffraction THz Spectroscopy of Materials and Liquids

This chapter summarizes the trends in terahertz measurements on the surface of rigid and flexible substrates. It focuses on research incorporating fast photoconductive switches to generate and detect on-chip THz pulses using a femtosecond laser. The chapter aims to review progress toward the study of picosecond dynamics and THz spectroscopy of materials and liquids. We emphasize general sub-diffraction techniques for THz spectroscopy, transmission line and waveguide design considerations, time-domain measurements for studies of material dynamics, and provide a survey of recent research on the THz spectroscopy of materials and liquids on-chip. We conclude with an outlook on the field and highlight promising new directions. This chapter is meant to be an introduction and a general guide to this emerging field for new researchers interested in on-chip THz studies.