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Science 29 April 2005:
Vol. 308. no. 5722, pp. 638 - 639
DOI: 10.1126/science.1109831
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Perspectives

APPLIED PHYSICS:
Toward Bridging the Terahertz Gap with Silicon-Based Lasers

Alexander Borak

A laser emitting at terahertz wavelengths (30 to 300 mum or 1 to 10 THz) would be highly useful in medical and security applications, but current terahertz lasers are complex and expensive. In his Perspective, Borak discusses recent advances toward building a more practical, silicon-based terahertz laser, which would be compatible with the ubiquitous silicon technology. Currently, so-called quantum cascade lasers look like most promising, but a working silicon quantum cascade laser is still some way off.

The author is at ICI Strategic Technology Group, Wilton Centre, Wilton, Redcar TS10 4RF, UK. E-mail: alex_borak{at}ici.com

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THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Emission of Coherent THz Radiation from Superconductors.
L. Ozyuzer, A. E. Koshelev, C. Kurter, N. Gopalsami, Q. Li, M. Tachiki, K. Kadowaki, T. Yamamoto, H. Minami, H. Yamaguchi, et al. (2007)
Science 318, 1291-1293
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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)