Next Rays

NASA, General Electric, Intel, and Lucent — scientists from Brazil to Denmark to Singapore and researchers from more than 50 universities — have all come to Rensselaer to learn more about its work with terahertz (THz), also known as T-rays.

To pursue this research, the university has received more than $7 million in grants from the National Science Foundation, Army Research Office, and Department of Energy. It has created its own Center for Terahertz Research — supervised by Professor Xi-Cheng Zhang, who was recently elected a fellow by two prestigious societies to honor his T-ray accomplishments.

Why all the attention? Because Zhang and Rensselaer have devised a new imaging technology — which may spark revolutions in medicine, microelectronics, and beyond.

Visualizing Innovation
It’s not that T-rays, in and of themselves, are revolutionary. They occupy a large slice of the electromagnetic spectrum between the infrared and microwave bands, along with radio waves and other forms of radiation.

What Zhang and his interdisciplinary team have accomplished, before anyone else, is the ability to visualize T-rays in real-time. Combining engineering, chemistry, and physics fundamentals with high-powered computing and data gathering, they have harnessed the power of T-rays — with seemingly endless applications.

Rays of Hope
As an alternative method of mammography, T-rays can detect breast cancer. They can “see” underground toxins better than other technologies. They may enable a quantum leap in the speed of computers and communications. They could greatly enhance the mapping of DNA and RNA. There is little doubt that T-rays will impact our lives in the decades ahead; and it all started at Rensselaer.

Why Is Rensselaer Leading the T-ray Revolution?
Take top academic and research talent, such as Zhang. Add world-class, high-tech facilities. Mix with other leading researchers in Rensselaer’s uniquely interdisciplinary, collaborative environment. See great things happen.

T-rays are just one example. Rensselaer is committed to seeking out the critical, high-tech challenges of our time — to save lives, improve communications, strengthen industry, and foster constant innovation.

Why not change the world?