Convert terahertz [THz] to wavelength in nanometres [nm] Online | Free frequency-wavelength Converter

Bridging the Gap Between Microwaves and Infrared

The terahertz (THz) is a unit of frequency equal to 1 trillion hertz (10¹² Hz), or one trillion cycles per second. This frequency range lies between the microwave and infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, often called the "terahertz gap" because it is challenging to generate and detect these waves efficiently.

Terahertz waves have unique properties that make them valuable for a variety of scientific, medical, and security applications. In medical imaging, terahertz radiation can penetrate clothing and other non-metallic materials without the harmful effects associated with X-rays, making it promising for non-invasive diagnostics. In security, terahertz scanners are used to detect concealed weapons and substances at airports.

In physics and material science, terahertz spectroscopy helps analyze molecular structures, chemical compositions, and semiconductor properties with high precision. The high frequency of terahertz waves also makes them useful in ultra-fast wireless communication technologies aiming to provide data transfer rates far beyond current Wi-Fi and 5G speeds.

Despite its potential, terahertz technology is still developing, with ongoing research focused on improving sources and detectors to unlock more practical and widespread applications.

Measuring Light and Electromagnetic Waves

A nanometre (nm) is a unit of length equal to one billionth of a metre (1 nm = 10⁻⁹ m) and is commonly used to express wavelengths of light and other electromagnetic waves. In this context, nanometres provide a convenient scale for describing phenomena that occur at the atomic and molecular level. Visible light, for example, spans wavelengths from about 380 nm (violet) to 750 nm (red). Ultraviolet (UV) light has shorter wavelengths, typically between 10 nm and 400 nm, while infrared (IR) light has longer wavelengths, from about 750 nm to 1,000,000 nm.

Wavelengths in nanometres are critical in fields like optics, photonics, spectroscopy, and nanotechnology. They determine the energy and color of light, how it interacts with matter, and how it can be manipulated in devices like lasers, fiber optics, and solar cells. Shorter wavelengths (in the UV or X-ray range) carry more energy and are used in applications such as medical imaging and semiconductor fabrication. Understanding and working with wavelengths in nanometres allows scientists and engineers to explore and control the behavior of light at extremely small scales—down to the size of atoms and molecules.