THz Surface Waves, Waveguide THz-TDS and the 2D-TEM Plane

这项实验研究计划将探索使用远红外太赫兹(THz)辐射的基本光学物理和应用。PI以前已经将平行板波导的概念和用途扩展到更大的二维平面。在这个平面内，二维准光学元件表现出太赫兹的导光和衍射。这个项目将利用最近设计的具有负折射率的二维准光学元件来研究光学物理。研究人员将测量折射特性，并评估这些极其分散的成分的实用性。此外，该计划还将对THz表面电磁波(等离子体)在金属薄膜中孔的平面亚波长阵列上的传播进行实验测量和理论研究。这些实验的目的是为了解决与理论预测的太赫兹表面等离子体的很大横向范围和先前观察到的通过孔阵列的传输之间的差异。该计划将把以前开发的波导THz时域光谱技术转变为一种新的具有高灵敏度和频率分辨率的频谱分析技术，用于传感和测量材料薄层的性质。这项传感技术具有重要的技术意义，在有机化学和分子生物学等许多领域都具有重要意义。研究人员将评估在太赫兹光谱范围内使用表面等离子激元或平行板波导的传感技术的相对强度。我们将展示二维波导面在小型化仪器中的多功能性和实用性。该项目还将为学生和博士后研究人员提供光学科学、太赫兹物理和分子传感方面的多学科研究培训。

This experimental research program will explore fundamental optical physics and applications using far-infrared terahertz (THz) radiation. The PI has previously extended the concept and utility of parallel-plate waveguides to that of a much larger two-dimensional plane. Within this plane two-dimensional quasi-optical elements have demonstrated THz guiding and diffraction. This project will investigate optical physics with recently designed two-dimensional quasi-optical components with negative index of refraction. Researchers will measure the refractive properties and assess the utility of these extremely dispersive components. In addition, the program will experimentally measure and theoretically study the propagation of THz surface electromagnetic waves (plasmons) on planar subwavelength arrays of holes in thin metal films. The experiments are designed to resolve a discrepancy with the theoretically predicted very large transverse extent of the THz surface plasmons and previously observed transmission through hole arrays. The program will transform the previously developed technique of waveguide THz Time-Domain Spectroscopy into a new spectral analysis technique with high sensitivity and frequency resolution for sensing and measuring the properties of thin layers of material. This sensing technology is of great technological importance and the techniques are of major interests to many fields including organic chemistry and molecular biology. The researchers will assess the comparative strengths of sensing techniques using surface plasmons or parallel-plate waveguides in the THz spectral range. The versatility and usefulness of the two-dimensional waveguide plane for reduced scale instrumentation will be demonstrated. This project will also provide multidisciplinary research training for students and postdoctoral researchers in optical science, terahertz physics, and molecular sensing.