Terahertz waveguides with low transmission losses: characterization and applications

摘要

Research in the area of terahertz (THz) waveguides has seen a rapid progress recently and has led to demonstration of THz waveguides with transmission losses comparable to losses in air. We will discuss dielectric-lined hollow metallic waveguides, in which THz waves propagate with attenuation as low as 1 dB/m and dispersion of 6 ps/(THzm), and compare them to other low-loss THz waveguides. As a key technique for THz waveguide research, we will discuss the application of THz near-field microscopy in combination with THz time-domain spectroscopy for waveguide characterization. This technique allows us to map spatial profiles of normal modes and to measure transmission loss and dispersion spectra for individual modes within the THz range.