Dr. Mittleman responds to recent post regarding Yissum Research Development Company

Editor's note-the following is Dr. Mittleman's response to the Oct. 19th, 2009 blog post regarding Yissum University. It will be nice to see if he cares to comment about the recent allegations that Teraherz waves tear or damage DNA. As always thank you Dr. Mittleman.

Hi Randy,

I've just tried to post a response to your recent blog post, but I guess

I'm required to have an account that I don't have, in order to post. In

any event, you might want to know that this article contains several

glaring inaccuracies.

First of all, THz quantum cascade lasers are NOT "the only coherent T-ray

sources existing today." Not even close. THz lasers have been around

since the 1960's. There are many other examples. That's nonsense.

Secondly, THz radiation is NOT "comparable to x-rays in terms of their

ability to penetrate opaque substances." Last time I checked, THz

radiation does not penetrate water or even a sheet of aluminum foil.

That's very much different from x-rays, as anybody who has ever been to an

airport could tell you. And thirdly, the implied comment that T-rays will

somehow replace or supplant any existing medical imaging technology is

utterly ludicrous. There might, *MIGHT*, be certain niche applications in

the field of medical diagnostics where THz radiation is useful. But that

has yet to be established, and there is no way on earth that you'll ever

replace x-rays with T-rays.

Most practicing researchers are aware that this kind of hype only serves to

damage the credibility of the field, and seek to avoid it. I do not mean

to diminish the interesting work of the folks at Hebrew University. I'm

making no comment on the significance of their work, only on the way

they've chosen to advertise it.

You can feel free to post this comment on your blog, if you don't change

any of the text. And feel free to attribute it to me.

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Dr. Daniel Mittleman Phone: (713) 348-5452

Rice University FAX: (713) 348-5686

ECE Dept., MS-366 E-mail: daniel@rice.edu

6100 Main St. URL: www-ece.rice.edu/~daniel/Mittleman.html

Houston, TX 77005

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