Terahertz correlation spectroscopy infers particle velocity and rheological properties.

Abstract

Correlation spectroscopy is an analytical technique that can identify the residence time of reflective or fluorescent particles in a measurement spot, allowing particle velocity or diffusion to be inferred. We show that the technique can be applied to data measured with a time-domain terahertz sensor. The speed of reflectors such as silica ballotini or bubbles can thus be measured in fluid samples. Time-domain terahertz sensors can therefore be used, for the first time, to measure rheological properties of optically opaque fluids that contain entrained reflectors, such as polyethylene beads.