Terahertz Technology Market: Advancing NDT Testing

The past few decades have seen the rise of a highly promising region of the electromagnetic spectrum: the terahertz (THz) range. It was referred to as the “THz gap” for a long time as the generation and application of these waves presented several challenges. However, advancements in science and technology have started closing the gap.

So, what’s it about the terahertz technology market that makes it so transformative? Keep reading as w explain all that you need to know about terahertz waves, from their working to applications.

What Are Terahertz Waves?

Terahertz waves are also known as T-waves. Essentially, these are electromagnetic waves located between the infrared rays and microwaves in the electromagnetic spectrum. The frequency range of terahertz radiation is between 0.1 THz and 10 THz. This corresponds to wavelengths between 3 mm and 30 μm in vacuum. Given the range, terahertz radiation is also sometimes referred to as submillimeter radiation.

Terahertz radiation has unique properties and characteristics. It’s capable of seeing beyond materials such as fabrics, cardboard, and plastics. There exist various materials for which absorption lines can be used for studying their properties. Using terahertz radiation, it’s possible to detect the “fingerprint” of various proteins, biomolecules, and explosives.

Where’s the Market Headed?

Our comprehensive report on the terahertz technology market offers an in-depth assessment of the rapidly evolving sector. Our study reveals that the market for terahertz technology stood at USD 619.64 million in 2024. It is projected to account for a CAGR of 15.59% between 2025 and 2034.

The healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors are expanding worldwide. This has created an increased need for drug testing and non-invasive medical diagnostic services, impacting the terahertz technology market development favorably. The shift towards 6G and ultra-high-frequency communication technologies is also contributing to market expansion.

What Were the Beginnings of Terahertz Technology?

Terahertz technology has been around since the early 1900s. Back then, the required material means to generate and detect these waves weren’t available. It was finally three decades ago that the applications of the technology became possible.

The use of terahertz radiation in technology and science was quite limited for a long time. This was because there weren’t any suitable detectors or good terahertz sources available. In the 1990s, interest in the technology grew, and more researchers became involved in it.

The rapid advances in terahertz technology are largely due to improvements in the silicon photonics market. These improvements enabled solutions that could both generate and detect terahertz waves. The modulation of terahertz signals also became possible with these solutions. These advances have led to research in various terahertz areas.

How Does Terahertz Spectroscopy Work?

Extracting information from a material using terahertz spectroscopy involves impinging a beam of THz waves on the material’s surface. The beam makes its way through the material and interacts with every layer interface. There’s a detector in place for collecting the transmitted or reflected beam. This is the point where the extraction of information about the material’s thickness and electrical properties is done. A reference measurement can also be carried out for comparing it with the sample measurement.

The interaction of the terahertz beam with a multilayered surface results in partial reflection and transmission at every interface. The multilayer surface can be a metal layer or a dielectric substrate. Distinct signals are created by these reflections in the time-domain waveform.

A typical representation shows two terahertz waveforms. Here, the peaks corresponding to the different boundaries are highlighted. Analyzing the timing and amplitude of these peaks allows researchers to get important information about the thickness, composition, and internal structure of the material.

What Are Sources of Terahertz Radiation?

Natural Sources

The emission of terahertz radiation is done by anything that has a temperature higher than 2 Kelvins as part of its natural black-body radiation. Sure, the thermal emission here is quite faint. However, it has valuable information about some of the coldest and most distant objects in our universe. Terahertz frequencies are studied by astronomers for detecting and analyzing cosmic dust in interstellar objects within the Milky Way and other galaxies. These observations help scientists in understanding the formation of stars and planetary systems in highly cold environments. Advanced observatories and telescopes that operate within the terahertz range include the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope and the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory.

Artificial Sources

In the late 2010s, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory announced the development of a small device. The scientists stated the breakthrough would allow portable and battery-powered terahertz radiation sources.

The innovation is based on high-temperature superconducting crystals. There are multiple layers in these crystals, known as Josephson junctions. Each of these layers showcases a fascinating quantum phenomenon called the Josephson effect. The effect states that the application of an external voltage across the junctions results in the flow of an alternating current between them. The flow of current results in the generation of an electromagnetic field.

What’s the Role of Terahertz in Non-destructive Evaluation?

Terahertz imaging is gaining traction in the NDT and inspection market. The imaging method is suitable for the examination of dielectric materials. It offers a safe and non-invasive way to control quality. Terahertz imaging has been effective for the inspection of paint layers and coatings. It can also detect structural flaws in ceramics and composites. The visualization of the internal structures of artworks and historical manuscripts is also possible. Terahertz waves can penetrate multiple layers of a material. As such, it becomes possible for engineers and researchers to detect hidden defects and irregularities.

Conclusion

Terahertz radiation provides several exciting possibilities across various fields. It offers a new way to study and understand materials and compounds. Terahertz radiation can reveal details missed by other forms of testing. However, there’s still a long way to go. Current technologies still experience challenges in the efficient generation and detection of terahertz waves. As such, the terahertz technology market key players are increasingly focusing on the development of new devices and advanced techniques.