A Review of the Terahertz Conductivity of Bulk and Nano-Materials

We review pioneering and recent studies of the conductivity of solid state systems at terahertz frequencies. A variety of theoretical formalisms that describe the terahertz conductivity of bulk, mesoscopic and nanoscale materials are outlined, and their validity and limitations are given. Experimental highlights are discussed from studies of inorganic semiconductors, organic materials (such as graphene, carbon nanotubes and polymers), metallic films and strongly correlated electron systems including superconductors.