Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Terahertz Imaging and Characterization Protocol for Freshly Excised Breast Cancer Tumors
Published on: April 5, 2020
Effects of surface roughness on reflection spectra obtained by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy
Yamac Dikmelik1, James B Spicer, Michael J Fitch
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA. yamac@jhu.edu
Abstract:
We present an analytical model that shows that reflection from a rough surface causes a Gaussian frequency roll-off for the spectral magnitude of a terahertz wave and reduces the signal-to-noise ratio of terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. The parameter that determines the width of the frequency roll-off is the standard deviation of the surface height distribution. Measurements of terahertz waves reflected from copper powder samples provide experimental evidence for this effect.
Related Concept Videos
Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) Infrared Spectroscopy: Overview
The ATR process begins by directing a beam...
Spectrophotometry: Introduction
The essential components of a spectrophotometer include a source of electromagnetic radiation, a slot for placing a material to be analyzed, and a...

