It's significant, because historically its been difficult for electronic devices to deal with electromagnetic radiation in the THz range. The announced device is a significant step in fixing this.
As devices have improved over the years, the radio frequencies devices can process have increased. DC to 60GHz is the current practical limit in consumer electronics. Above that is the domain of specialised (and expensive) transceivers.
At the other end, devices can process optical signal relatively easily. Red light is 400THz and the useful range of optical devices might extend down to 10THz or so.
In between there is a gap, in the region about 1THz: The THz gap. These are frequencies whose wavelength is too long for optical devices, but whose frequency is too high for RF devices. Being able to easily access these frequencies offers the promise of all sorts of useful imaging and communications devices. Think of the THz band as being the virgin "wild west" of the EM spectrum.
As devices have improved over the years, the radio frequencies devices can process have increased. DC to 60GHz is the current practical limit in consumer electronics. Above that is the domain of specialised (and expensive) transceivers.
At the other end, devices can process optical signal relatively easily. Red light is 400THz and the useful range of optical devices might extend down to 10THz or so.
In between there is a gap, in the region about 1THz: The THz gap. These are frequencies whose wavelength is too long for optical devices, but whose frequency is too high for RF devices. Being able to easily access these frequencies offers the promise of all sorts of useful imaging and communications devices. Think of the THz band as being the virgin "wild west" of the EM spectrum.