Balancing the beam: Thermomechanical micromachine detects terahertz radiation

(Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo) Researchers at The University of Tokyo developed a microelectromechanical device that detects terahertz radiation at room temperature. This device is easy to use, much faster than conventional thermal sensors, highly sensitive, and can be incorporated into detector arrays. It detects radiation using the shift in mechanical resonance frequency of a tiny suspended beam caused by the thermal expansion generated by THz radiation. This breakthrough heralds a new era of terahertz technologies, including sensors and cameras.

from EurekAlert! - Technology, Engineering and Computer Science http://bit.ly/2Yy4JLT