Terahertz Waveguides
The majority of THz systems are based on the transmission of free-space THz radiation. However, waveguide-based systems show an enormeous potenial for future applications ranging from integrated sensor devices to high resolution imaging. For these applications low-loss and non-dispersive waveguides are needed that transmit the generated THz signals. Additionally, low radiation losses at bendings and a compact setup are desireable. Conventional waveguide concepts -as they are used in the field of optics or microwave technology- cannot be used at THz frequencies due to their high absorption in this frequency range. At the Institute of Semiconductor Electronics, new waveguide concepts suitable to guide THz signals efficiently are developed and characterized.![Fig. 1: (Left) Simulation of field distribution of a propagating 0.5 THz surface wave along a Sommerfeld wire, (Middle) THz signals detected at the surface of a wire with a 25 µm radius, (Right) THz signals detected at the surface of a wire that is additionally coated with a dielectric [Ref. 1].](../../../../Bilder/Forschung/opto/Grafik1.gif)
Fig. 1: (Left) Simulation of field distribution of a propagating 0.5 THz surface wave along a Sommerfeld wire, (Middle) THz signals detected at the surface of a wire with a 25 µm radius, (Right) THz signals detected at the surface of a wire that is additionally coated with a dielectric [Ref. 1].
![Fig. 2: Simulation of field distribution of a 0.5 THz wave propagating along a metllic slit waveguide having cross dimensions 0.3mm x 0.3 mm [Ref. 2].](../../../../Bilder/Forschung/opto/Grafik2.gif)
Fig. 2: Simulation of field distribution of a 0.5 THz wave propagating along a metllic slit waveguide having cross dimensions 0.3mm x 0.3 mm [Ref. 2].
![Fig. 3: (Left) Distribution of the normalized Poynting-Vektor in propagation direction for a low-index dicontinuity waveguide.(Right) Experimentally and numerically derived values for the frequency-dependent attenuation ranging from 0.3 THz - 0.7 THz [Ref. 3].](../../../../Bilder/Forschung/opto/Grafik3.gif)
Fig. 3: (Left) Distribution of the normalized Poynting-Vektor in propagation direction for a low-index dicontinuity waveguide.(Right) Experimentally and numerically derived values for the frequency-dependent attenuation ranging from 0.3 THz - 0.7 THz [Ref. 3].
Publications:
[1] M. Wächter, M. Nagel and H. Kurz, "Frequency-dependent characterization of THz Sommerfeld wave propagation on single-wires," Opt. Express 13, pp. 10815-10822 (2005).
[2] M. Wächter, M. Nagel and H. Kurz, "Metallic slit waveguide for dispersion-free low-loss terahertz signal transmission," Appl. Phys. Lett. 90, p. 061111 (2007).
[3] M. Nagel, A. Marchewka and H. Kurz, "Low-index discontinuity terahertz waveguides," Opt. Express 14, pp. 9944-9954 (2006).
