ZnTe

eV PRODUCTS grows high purity Zinc Telluride (ZnTe) crystals for a wide range of applications including Terahertz (THz) Imaging. We offer both unprocessed bulk ZnTe material and high quality single crystal optical components for photo-refractive and electro-optic applications. ZnTe optics can be custom cut to any crystal orientation and polished to accommodate the most demanding requirements. *Sizes up to 50mm x 50mm x 5mm available.

What is Terahertz ("T-rays")?

Scientists are drawn to this elusive portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, which lies between infrared and microwave bands, because of the advantages that T-rays offer over conventional imaging technologies. Unlike X-rays, T-rays can be focused and are capable of producing images with signature or fingerprint capability, also called functional imaging. T-rays' low photon energy levels allow the imaging of biological tissue without harmful ionizing radiation, making them safer than X-rays. And the unique vibrational, rotational, and translational responses of materials within the THz range provide information generally absent in optical, X-ray and NMR images, enabling a sort of THz wave fingerprint of the molecular structure of the material being imaged. This fingerprinting will allow T-rays to one day be used to detect harmful biological or chemical agents.