Time-domain-filtered terahertz nanoscopy of intrinsic light-matter interactions

Abstract Terahertz (THz) technology holds great potential across diverse applications including biosensing, security screening, and information communications, but its conventional far-field technique is diffraction-limited to submillimeter resolution. Near-field optical microscopy overcomes this barrier through a sharp metallized tip that concentrates incident THz waves into nanometric volumes, detecting the resulting scattered near-field to reveal nanoscale THz optical properties. However, owing to the large THz wavelengths, resonant surface waves arising on the tip and cantilever obscure the intrinsic near-field response. Here we combine near-field microscopy with THz time-domain spectroscopy and implement time-domain filtering with an elongated cantilever to eliminate this artifact, achieving intrinsic nanospectroscopy and nanoimaging at THz frequencies. By applying this technique, we distinguish and characterize of historical pigments of an ancient sculpture, such as vermilion and red lead, at the nanoscale. We also unravel deep-subwavelength localized resonance modes in THz optical antennas, demonstrating capabilities for THz nanophotonics. Our work advances THz nanoimaging and nanospectroscopy techniques to probe intrinsic nanoscale THz light–matter interactions.