Terahertz Technologies, R&D, Commercial Implication and Market Forecast

SUMMARY

Summary

• Universities, national laboratories, and the commercial sector (both national and international businesses) continue to increase investment in terahertz technologies for security, medical, nondestructive inspection, and manufacturing
• quality-control applications.
• There are currently about 30 companies globally devoted to commercializing terahertz technologies. The technology base for terahertz security screening is expanding rapidly internationally, yet there is insufficient technology available to develop complete high-end systems capable of, for example, effectively identifying concealed explosives.
• Terahertz technology in security portal applications has been demonstrated for detecting and identifying objects concealed on people and is a leading area of development and commercialization. Airports using or in the process of conducting trials with THz detection technology are Schiphol (Amsterdam), Mexico City, Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Chiang Mai (Thailand), and Madrid (Spain), and the technology is under consideration in the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, Russia, and Singapore.
• From a commercialization standpoint, the fundamental hardware to build a commercial wireless THz communication system does not exist today. We are far from having room-temperature THz emitters or THz receivers that cost just a few dollars and are the size of a coin. Developing the technology for a short-range THz communication system will be challenging and represents a multidisciplinary and long-term task.
• The market opportunity for counterfeit prevention technologies enabled by THz is growing, particularly in drugs/pharmaceuticals, defect detection in semiconductor manufacturing, and other high-value areas. However, given the current global security climate, the fastest growing area for THz non-destructive testing is likely to be baggage screening.
• The development of environmental sensing systems utilizing THz technology is still in its earliest phase. Since THz radiation is highly absorbed by water, utilizing this technology for atmospheric applications may be limited.
• Currently, billions of dollars are being invested worldwide on remote sensing terahertz astrophysics and atmospheric missions (though the actual cost of the THz components within these missions is very small). In many cases the basic laboratory data required to interpret the observations from these missions is unavailable, incomplete, or unreliable. There will be an urgent need over the next decade for high quality terahertz laboratory spectroscopy on molecules of atmospheric and astrophysical importance.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary

1. Overview of Terahertz Technologies

• 1.1Introduction to Thz Science and Technology
• 1.2Thz Radiation Sources: Current Status, Technology Issue, Outlook
  • Common Research Items:
    • What is Technology?
    • Device (Material, Accumulation, Function, Technology Issue, Cost)
    • Future Outlook
  • 1.2.1Gyrotron
  • 1.2.2Backward Wave Oscillator ("BWO")
  • 1.2.3Far Iinfrared Laser ("FIR" laser")
  • 1.2.4Quantum Cascade Laser
  • 1.2.5Free Electron Laser (FEL)
• 1.3Other Key Technologies: Current Status, Technology Issue, and Outlook
  • Common Research Items:
    • What is Technology?
    • Device (Material, Accumulation, Function, Technology Issue, Cost)
    • Future Outlook
  • 1.3.1Cadmium Zinc Telluride
  • 1.3.2Comb Generator
  • 1.3.3Gunn Diode
  • 1.3.4HEMT (High Electron Mobility Transistor)
  • 1.3.5Heterojunction Bipolar Transistor
  • 1.3.6Resonant Tunneling Diode
  • 1.3.7Terahertz Time Domain Spectroscopy
  • 1.3.8Zinc Telluride

2. Applications, Developer/Player, Technology and Activity & Barrier

• Common Research Items
  • Image of the Finished Products
  • Developer/Player (American Companies, European Companies, Other Country)
  • Status of Current Activity and Barrier
• 2.1Biomedical Imaging
• 2.2Security and Surveillance
• 2.3Agriculture and Food
• 2.4Communications
• 2.5Manufacturing, Quality Control, and Process Monitoring, Non-Destructive Inspection
• 2.6Environment
• 2.7Astronomy

3. Case Study by Application Area

• Common Research Items:
  • Device, Component
  • Products or Systems
  • Developer/Player
  • Technology (Frequency)
  • Prototype and Commercial Implication
• 3.1Biomedical
• 3.2Security & Surveillance
• 3.3Agriculture/Food
• 3.4Communications
• 3.5Manufacturing, Quality Control, and Process Monitoring, Non-Destructive Inspection
• 3.6Environment
• 3.7Astronomy

4. Commercial Implications & Market Forecast

• 4.1Current Commercial Status by Application and Product
  • Common Research Items:
    • Product Developed (Breakdown) & Commercial Implications
    • Product will be Developed (Breakdown) & Commercial Implications
  • 4.1.1Biomedical Applications
  • 4.1.2Security & Surveillance
  • 4.1.3Agriculture/Food
  • 4.1.4Communications
  • 4.1.5Manufacturing, Quality Control, and Process Monitoring, Non-Destructive Inspection
  • 4.1.6Environment
  • 4.1.7Astronomy
• 4.2Market Forecast, 2007 - 2017
  • 4.2.1Total Market Size Forecast
    • Table 4-1: Total Market Size Forecast 2007 vs. 2017
    • Figure 4-1: Total Market Size Forecast 2007 vs. 2017
  • 4.2.2Market Size Forecast by Application, 2007 vs. 2017
    • Table 4-2: Market Size Forecast by Application, 2007 vs. 2017
    • Figure 4-2:Market Size Forecast by Application, 2007 vs. 2017
  • 4.2.3Market Share Comparison by Application, 2007 vs. 2017
    • Table 4-3:Market Share Comparison by Application, 2007 vs. 2017
    • Figure 4-3:Market Share Comparison by Application, 2007 vs. 2017

5. Strategic Alliances and Partners

• 5.1Commercial Entities
  • Table 5-1At Glance (Company Name, Technology Developed, Alliances & Partners)
• 5.2University and Institute
  • Table 5-2: At Glance (Company Name, Technology Developed, Alliances & Partners)

6. Organization Profile, Activity and Strategy

• 6.1Commercial Entities
  • 6.1.1 ~ 6.1.28 (Total 28)
  • Common Research Items:
    • Country, Company Name, URL
    • Key Target (Application & Products)
    • Technology Strategy for Key Target
    • Strategic Alliances & Partners
    • Strength
• 6.2Universities & Research Centers
  • 6.2.1 ~ 6.2.15 (Total 15)
  • Common Research Items:
    • Country, University Name, URL
    • Key Research Area
    • Laboratory Leader
    • Technology
    • Strategic Alliances & Corporate Partners
    • Strength

7. Business Opportunities

• 7.1Key Terahertz Technology Licensing Opportunities
  • 7.1.1 ~ 7.1.12 (Total 12)
  • Common Research Items:
    • Country, Name of Organization, URL
    • Contact
    • Technology
    • Description
    • Applications
• 7.2Most Cited ThzPapers
• 7.3Key Terahertz-related Conferences and Meetings
• 7.4Key Professional Societies and Research Organizations