The International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves

　　international organizing committee 

　　Shen, Xuechu, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, China

　　The International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz), begun in 1974, is the oldest and largest continuous forum specifically devoted to the field of ultra high frequency electronics and applications. In 2004 the original conference series - International Conference on Infrared and Millimeter Waves (IRMMW) joined up with the International Conference on THz Electronics to form the Joint 29th International Conference on Infrared and Millimeter Waves and the 12th International Conference on Terahertz Electronics (IRMMW-THz 2004). In 2008 the conference name was shortened to the 33rd International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves, keeping the same general acronym: IRMMW-THz 20XX.

　　The IRMMW conference and its long standing accompanying monthly publication, The Journal of Infrared, Millimeter and Terahertz Waves, were among the very first scientific outlets for the burgeoning field of far infrared components and instruments that arose in the mid 1970s. The scope of the conference extends from millimeter wave devices, components and systems to far-infrared detectors and instruments, and encompasses micro- and nano-scale structures to large-scale accelerators and Tokamaks and their applications.

　　The international organizing committee is composed of world-recognized experts from eleven countries. The conference typically alternates between the USA, Asia and Europe on a three year cycle. Past conferences have been supported by US agencies such as IEEE, APS, DOE and DoD and dozens of local societies within the hosting countries. In 2003 both the IRMMW and THz Electronics conferences were held sequentially in Japan. Total attendees for both events was 520 registrants from 18 countries with 340 submitted papers. After 2003 the two conferences joined and attendance in 2004 (Karlsruhe, Germany) exceeded 450 scientists from 28 countries with over 400 contributed papers. The 2005 conference in Williamsburg, Virginia, hosted 300 scientists from 23 countries with more than 375 contributed papers. In Shanghai, China in 2006 more than 550 papers were submitted representing 28 countries and regions, the largest venue in recent memory. The 2007 conference in Cardiff, Wales, UK ended with more than 430 participants from 18 countries and 550 submitted papers. The 2008 conference in Pasadena had over 460 papers from 32 countries. Coming up soon is the 2009 venue in Busan Korea which has 510 abstracts and will be followed by a special two day post-conference THz program with many distinguished invited speakers.