8. Conclusion

What makes the terahertz field so interesting to study and so promising in terms of applications is undoubtedly its position at the crossroads between the worlds of infrared optics (physics) and microwaves (electronics). In a way, the terahertz field represents the ultimate evolution of both infrared techniques and ultrafast electronics and microelectronics. As a result, terahertz wave research and technology encompasses many different and complementary specialties, from fundamental physics (submillimeter astrophysics, ultrafast phenomena in matter, physics of nanoscopic and quantum components, etc.) to high-tech developments (cameras, telecoms, biomedical, etc.). This field of terahertz research has now reached a certain maturity. As far as academic research is concerned, most of the basic work has already been done. Many pieces of equipment, whose development was in itself a research...