PhD defense

Jeyan Bichon will defend her PhD thesis "Détermination  de l'indice de réfraction complexe de particules en suspension dans un environnement contrôlé par spectroscopie TeraHertz", which will take place on Thursday, December 19th, at 1:30 PM in the amphitheater of IEMN.

Thesis Jury:

- Gwenaël Gaborit (Assistant Professor, CROMA/Université de Savoie) – Reviewer

- Weidong Chen (Professor, LPCA/Université de Littoral Côte d’Opale) – Reviewer

- Jerôme Yon (Professor, CORIA/Université de Rouen Normandie) – Examiner

- Isabelle Chiapello (Research Scientist, LOA/Université de Lille) – Examiner

- Sophie Eliet Barois (Research Engineer, IEMN/CNRS) – Supervisor

- Denis Petitprez (Professor, PC2A/Université de Lille) – Thesis Director

- Alexandre Deguine (Assistant Professor, LPCA/Université de Littoral Côte d’Opale) – Invited Member

- Romain Peretti (Research Scientist, IEMN/CNRS) – Invited Member

Thesis Abstract:
The composition of Earth's atmosphere is vital for regulating environmental phenomena and, consequently, climate change. Terahertz (THz) radiation, spanning frequencies from 0.1 to 10 THz, interacts with atmospheric particles through absorption and scattering, thus influencing the planet’s radiative balance.

However, the effects of atmospheric aerosols in the THz range remain largely unexplored due to the recent availability of appropriate sources and detectors for these frequencies. Determining the optical properties of atmospheric aerosols in the THz band, particularly their complex refractive indices, is crucial for understanding their role in modulating Earth’s radiative balance.

This study addresses this need by developing an apparatus operating in the 0.2–5 THz range, specifically designed to study atmospheric aerosol particles. Using this device, we recorded and analyzed the THz spectra of natural aerosols, including a sample from the Gobi Desert, to deduce their optical properties and better understand their potential environmental implications.