The Terahertz Devices and Intersubband Nanostructures Laboratory is broadly focused on the study of device physics and development of novel devices at the intersection of the following concepts:

• Engineering of quantum electronic properties in low-dimensional semiconductors
• Engineering of artificial electromagnetic materials and structures
• Development of novel technologies for the generation, detection, and control of THz and mid-IR radiation

The terahertz frequency range lies roughly between 300 GHz and 10 THz (between the microwave and infrared spectra), and has seen comparatively little technological development in large part because of the great difficulty in generating and detecting THz radiation. THz radiation is of interest for chemical and biological sensing, security screening and explosive and drug detection, astrophysical probes of the early universe and star/galaxy formation, medical imaging, nondestructive evaluation of materials, industrial inspection, and short-range high-bandwidth communications.

This convergence of interests is epitomized by the quantum cascade laser, an intra-band semiconductor laser for which the wavelength of light is not determined not by the bandgap, but rather is chosen by engineering electronic states in coupled 2D quantum wells - i.e. by creating "artificial  molecules."

A review paper on THz quantum-cascade lasers.