Guest Editorial: Special Issue on THz Radiation Applied to Cultural Heritage

It has just been over 10 years since Terahertz radiation was applied to art conservation studies for the first time. The unique potential and the development of THz radiation applications in this research field are based on the radiation capability to penetrate the different layers of paintings, frescoes, mosaics, and archaeological objects depending on the specific frequency used, in order to provide information about their morphological, physical, and chemical properties. Following the early investigations on mock-up samples and proof-of-principle experiments, over the years, THz imaging and spectroscopic techniques have gradually complemented the existing X-ray, visible and infrared (VIS/IR) spectroscopic and imaging technologies in the effort to provide powerful, non-invasive, multi-frequency analysis tools to researchers working in the field of cultural heritage conservation.