Terahertz Telescope in Chile Probes the Molecular Universe
Terahertz astronomy is the science of receiving and analyzing waves of radiation from space emitted by molecules at frequencies of more than 1 Trillion Hertz. The universe is filled with clouds of gas composed of different types of molecules, each of which radiate energy at a different frequency. By measuring the strength of terahertz signals coming from a cosmic cloud at the known frequency for, say, carbon monoxide, terahertz astronomers can determine the amount of carbon monoxide in the cloud. They can also measure where inside the cloud these molecules are congregating and how fast they are moving. Terahertz astronomy holds great potential for new discoveries in interstellar chemistry and star formation according to Christine Pulliam of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge, Mass.
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