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Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy and near-field imaging of microstructured waveguides

This thesis presents studies of novel terahertz photonic devices, including photoconductive optoelectronic devices and guided-wave components, aimed at the development of next-generation terahertz systems. In chapter 2, a scalable interdigitated THz transmitter is designed to increase the output power and compared with a conventional 50 μm coplanar transmitter. In chapter 3, we compare four different receivers with different antenna geometries in terms of bandwidth and sensitivity. Then we describe a photoconductive near-field detector with a subwavelength aperture and its system integration and characterization. In chapter 4, a parallel metal plate waveguide is designed with an integrated step inside the waveguide that can couple to higher order TM modes efficiently from the TEM mode. In this chapter, we also experimentally and numerically study a 2-dimensionally tapered parallel plate waveguide, by which a free-space THz beam can be focused into a deep subwavelength-scale volume. In chapter 5, a parallel thin dielectric film waveguide is used to explore the guiding mechanism of an antiresonant optical reflection waveguide. Cylindrical silica single capillaries and a microstructured capillary, which guide in a similar way, are characterized in terms of mode profiles and attenuation. In chapter 6, we study oblique transmission through freestanding thin nickel films, which are perforated with periodic conical hole arrays. Surface modes can be supported by both metallic surfaces with different nonlinear dispersion curves, which results in spectral interferences in a near-field region when the surface modes couple out of the waveguide into free space.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:607613
Date January 2013
CreatorsPan, Yi
ContributorsAndrews, Steven
PublisherUniversity of Bath
Source SetsEthos UK
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation

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