The use of THz and far infrared radiation for technical, medical, and biophysical applications requires knowledge about the interactions with biological structures, cells, cell membranes, DNA, and proteins, to estimate the range of useful applications as well as potential hazards, and to allow dosimetry, risk assessment and risk management.
Only very little is known from some early reports on the molecular basis of the interaction of THz and Far IR radiation with biological molecules. Most of these studies lack a solid physical, chemical and biological basis, and the effects of thermal and of resonant absorption are not well separated.
In order to improve this situation and to prepare the grounds for safe applications, a consortium has formed to start an RTD initiative in the Fifth Framework Programme of the EU - "Quality of Life" theme - with the following goals:
To achieve these objectives, the consortium has chosen a multidisciplinary approach with scientists from several fields, comprising three groups which already operate multiple far infrared and THz sources needed for these studies and two groups which are active in the study of biological molecules with infrared, far infrared, and THz radiation with cellular, subcellular and molecular biological systems. Two further groups are active in developing imaging techniques with THz frequencies, while a further group has expertise in the investigation and analysis of bond breaking in complex molecules.