Terahertz radiation converted into heat

[jgrant333]

Hello all.

Does anyone know what percentage of THz radiation is converted into heat energy? I'm thinking of the simple case where a beam of Thz radiation is incident upon some sort of detector element. The THz radiation can either be converted into kinetic energy (vibration of the molecules/atoms) or heat energy (there is not sufficient energy for inter atomic transitions etc.)

Has anyone tried to simulate such a situation?

Many thanks,

 

[mgb_phys]

It depends on the surface. Like any other form of light the amount converted into heat is just 1-reflectivity. For these wavelengths there are lots of water bands so you would also have to be careful about any moisture on the surface.

 

[jgrant333]

Of course ii depends on the amount of light reflected.

However not all of the absorbed radiation will be converted into heat. It is this % of absorbed energy converted into heat I am after.

 

[mgb_phys]

All the absorbed energy is converted into heat (where else could it go?)
Some of it will be re-radiated, assuming that the object behaves like a black body you can calculate what temperature it will heat up to and how much power will be re-radiated.

-In the short term some energy could be used to change the chemical nature of the surface (eg in cooking) but then anything else will just be heat.

 

[majunge000]

It depends on the absorption efficiency of the dielectric medium.
I am a postgraduate majored in Terahertz. So if you have some difficult questions, you could talk with me about it! I will be glad to talk with you about my major.