Siberian scientists develop new material for surveying systems and diagnostics

Novosibirsk researchers have developed a new material that could be used in the creation of advanced systems for customs inspections or medical diagnostics

Researchers at the Novosibirsk-based Rzhanov Institute of Semiconductor Physics in Siberia have developed a new material that is said to be able to ?see? an image of an object in a submillimeter-wave, or terahertz, spectral range, Piterburger.ru reported. ?We have already made a prototype of a THz sensor, but this is only a good start. We have also developed brand new structures that ?feel? well in the terahertz region, as we can see now,? said Sergei Dvoretsky, the head of a laboratory at the Institute. According to the scientist, Institute specialists have already come up with newest photosensitive materials, which are cadmium-, tellurium- and mercury-based thin-film structures. Those are said to have demonstrated ?very high? sensitivity to both infrared and terahertz radiation. This kind of THz radiation with a wavelength of 3-0.03mm easily penetrates plastic, wood and ceramics, while being unable to pierce water or metals, Mr...