Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (TTDS) is a powerful spectroscopic technique, combining pulsed broadband operation with high sensitivity coherent detection at room temperature. This thesis describes studies of terahertz surface plasmon polariton (SPP) guidance on a range of metamaterial structures using TTDS. Metamaterials are artificial media constructed from sub-wavelength dimension conducting elements which have an electromagnetic response that can be engineered by creating geometrical plasma-like resonances. In this work, high-confinement terahertz waveguiding is achieved by binding SPPs to cavity resonances which spoof the behaviour of intrinsic surface plasmon resonances found at much higher frequencies. The main aim of these studies is to investigate their properties with regard to potential applications in waveguiding and sensing. The first two chapters of this thesis describe the background to the subject. In chapter 3, the construction of a novel, flexible geometry, fibre-coupled TTDS system using hollow-core photonic crystal fibre (HC-PCF) is described. The extension of the system to include a near-field probe for evanescent field characterisation is also discussed. In chapter 4, we present the first direct observation of terahertz SPP propagation on plasmonic metamaterials consisting of copper sheets patterned with two-dimensional arrays of square copper-lined holes. Wavelength-scale field confinement is experimentally observed over an octave in frequency close to the band edge, representing a two order of magnitude increase in confinement compared to a flat metal sheet. In chapter 5, metamaterials consisting of two-dimensional arrays of coaxial apertures are shown to support two spoof plasmon modes below the band edge, enabling wavelength-scale field confinement to be experimentally realised at two distinct frequencies. In chapter 6, we present the first experimental results for terahertz SPP propagation on helical and discretely grooved cylindrical metamaterials termed metawires. In each case the results are compared with numerical simulations.

Focaliser l’énergie optique en un petit spot de diamètre beaucoup plus petit que la limite de diffraction a longtemps été un sujet très intéressant en photonique. Dans le domaine Térahertz (avec une longueur d’onde de l’ordre de 300 µm) ce défi est particulièrement important pour répondre à l’intérêt croissant de l’imagerie haute résolution et de la spectroscopie des matériaux d’une taille inférieure à l’échelle submillimétrique de la longueur d’onde en espace libre. Dans ma thèse, j’ai étudié le confinement des ondes de surface aux fréquences THz sur des structures métalliques de dimensions sous longueur d’onde. J’ai expérimentalement mesuré le confinement du champ électrique et calculé la relation de dispersion du mode de surface sur une structure métallique déposée sur un substrat diélectrique de faible permittivité. Ces mesures sont obtenues à l’aide d’un banc de mesures THz guidé, développé pendant ma thèse. La mesure est faite en champ proche par une sonde électro-optique micrométrique, librement positionnable. Ces résultats expérimentaux sont complétés par des simulations numériques, obtenues par le logiciel de simulation par éléments finis, Comsol Multiphysics. Les résultats expérimentaux montrent un confinement de λ/20 du mode EM de surface sur une ligne métallique rectangulaire de petites dimensions. / Focusing optical energy into a small spot diameter much smaller than the diffraction limit has long been a very interesting topic in photonics. In Terahertz (with a wavelength of about 300 microns) this challenge is particularly important to meet the growing interest in high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy of materials whose size is smaller than the wavelength in free space. In my thesis, I studied the confinement of surface waves at THz frequencies on metal structures with sub-wavelength dimensions . I experimentally measured the confinement of the electric field and calculated the dispersion relation of the surface mode on a metal structure deposited on a low permittivity dielectric substrate. These measurements are obtained using a guided-wave time domain spectroscopy set-up, developed during my PhD. The measurement is made by a near-field freely positionable electro-optical probe. These experimental results are supplemented by numerical simulations obtained by finite element analysis software Comsol Multiphysics. The experimental results show a confinement of λ/20 of the EM surface mode on a sub-wavelength dimension rectangular metal wire.