Evaluation of the Possible Application of Terahertz Technology to Resource Exploitation

A terahertz (THz) wave is an electromagnetic wave with a frequency of appropriately 0.1-100 THz (wave number of 3.3-3333 cm-1, wavelength of 0.003-3 mm) , at the border between photonics and electronics. For a long time, this frequency range was recognized as the THz gap, owing to the lack of stable sources and detectors of THz waves. Thanks to the recent development of equipment, terahertz technology, which is a combination of technologies using THz waves such as THz photonics, THz electronics, and THz engineering, has been highlighted in many scientific and industrial fields. However, there have been few studies aiming at applying this technology to the field of resource development. In this paper, recent trends in THz technology were reviewed, and the possible application of this technology to resource exploitation, i.e., identification of minerals or substances, was examined. As a result, it was revealed that this technology can be applied for resource exploration, and so further research is warranted in the future.