Instead of microwatts, the graphene detectors could use 0.1 nanowatts. If a superconducting detector could produce a single pixel then new graphene detectors could have 1000 to 10000 pixels.

Above – ?The image depicts a schematic of terahertz (THz) heterodyne detection with graphene. In this, two THz waves (red) are coupled into graphene, where they are combined or mixed. One of the waves is a high intensity signal generated by a local THz light source (i.e. a local oscillator), at a known THz frequency. The other signal is a faint THz wave that mimics the waves coming from space. Illustration: Hans He?????

Observations in the terahertz (or the far-infrared) frequency range (100GHz-10THz) are of great importance for understanding physics and chemistry in the star and planet forming regions. With the wavelength in THz range much longer than that in the IR, terahertz waves have capacity to reveal processes hidden behind dusty gas clouds.