Compact THz based systems for neuroscience applications

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Following the EPSRC Grant EP/H015795/1 and FP7 project No 285974 'TERA', our group has developed new compact semiconductor quantum-dot lasers and antennas for the THz sources, and acquired an outstanding equipment and experience in the field of THz research and its applications. Within this project, we will implement all our existing setups and knowledge to cover THz region - from 0.1 to 5 THz. Our preliminary experiments with THz time-domain spectroscopic (THz-TDS) setup and optical-pump-THz-probe experiments showed the ability to see and resolve spectral features, as well as minor and fast changes in them. A major part of this research programme will be to implement these techniques for biological samples and perform not only straightforward spectroscopic and THz-TDS measurements, but also all kinds of pump-probe experiments, involving all broad variety of sources at hand to serve as either pump or probe beams: optical pump -THz probe, THz pump - THz probe, IR pump - THz probe, and other combinations of pump and probe beams to check the affect onto cell cultures and tissues. The main target of the project is to develop the clear and simple diagnostic tools for structural brain recognition and investigate the THz radiation treatment properties on bio-materials.