The terahertz spectrum provides tremendous opportunities for broadband gas-phase spectroscopy, as numerous molecules exhibit strong fundamental resonances in the THz frequency range. However, cutting-edge THz gas-phase spectrometer require cumbersome multi-pass gas cells to reach sufficient sensitivity for trace level gas detection. Here, we report on the first demonstration of a THz gas-phase spectrometer using a sub-wavelength thick ultrahigh-Q THz disc microresonator. Leveraging the microresonator's ultrahigh quality factor in excess of 120,000 as well as the intrinsically large evanescent field, allows for the implementation of a very compact spectrometer without the need for complex multi-pass gas cells. Water vapour concentrations as low as 4 parts per million at atmospheric conditions have been readily detected in proof-of-concept experiments.
Keywords: microresonator; terahertz spectroscopy; water vapour sensing.