Researchers Conduct Terahertz Research at IDCAST Published Nov. 19, 2008 By Beverley Thompson Sensors Directorate WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- AFRL and several local Ohio universities--the University of Dayton, Miami University, and Wright State University--are conducting and/or funding research in the emergent area of terahertz (THz) pulse technology. This mutual scientific focus recently yielded the first-ever THz pulse to be generated and detected, an achievement with important implications to a multitude of defense, homeland security, and medical applications. The event occurred during experimentation conducted at the Institute for the Development and Commercialization of Advanced Sensor Technology (IDCAST) Collaborative Research Center, located in Dayton, Ohio. The advanced mode of detection employed for the discovery may ultimately enable the detection of nonmetallic weapons concealed by would-be terrorists. Further, the technology may prove integral to performing various noninvasive medical procedures--early-stage cancer detection, for example. IDCAST, which received start-up funding from the Ohio Third Frontier Commission, facilitates advanced research of key sensor technologies, from electro-optic and infrared platforms to remote and chemical/biological sensing capabilities. A forward-looking collaborative, IDCAST will drive partnerships between AFRL, academia, and industry towards the joint creation of diverse aerospace, biomedical, environmental, and safety and security technologies.