No. 1054
	Infrared Technology for Four National Priority Researches
	Investigating R&D Committee on multiple infrared application technology
	Japan has accepted the following technologies as important national subjects of research; (1)nano-, (2)bio-, (3)information- and (4)environment-technology. The infrared science and technology (IrST) is closely related to these subjects. In this report, for the first time, the national strategy of research is surveyed especially in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. After that, some of the noteworthy IrST topics are described in each national subject, and the radiation sources in the frequency range of THz are also studied because THz technology is highlighted very recently. Although infrared radiation seems apparently to be independent of nano-technology because of the inherent long wavelength, it is strongly related on such the nano-technology as seen in a device using quantum-well. An infrared sensor arrayed with high density is produced by nano-technology and it is utilized as an infrared imager for various kinds of applications, e.g., security, environmental measurement. In bio-technology, far-infrared radiation is applied for surgical method. On the other hand, near infrared radiation is applied to the tomographic image of biomedical tissue. In the information-technology, this report includes not only short haul- but also long distance-communication such as satellite communications even in a space. IrST such as spectroscopy, measurement and sensor technology are applied in the environmental technology more widely than in the other research subjects. We also describe some THz radiators such as semiconductor laser, Josephson element (which are connected to nano-technology), and high power sources using optically pumped gas or high energy electron beam.
	©2006. The Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan