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Fabricating Metamaterials Using the Fiber Drawing Method
Published on: October 18, 2012
Low-loss subwavelength plastic fiber for terahertz waveguiding
Li-Jin Chen1, Hung-Wen Chen, Tzeng-Fu Kao
1Department of Electrical Engineering and Graduate Institute of Electro-Optical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei.
Optics Letters
|February 17, 2006
Summary
We developed a simple plastic wire for guiding terahertz waves with low loss. This cost-effective terahertz waveguide offers reduced attenuation for efficient wave propagation.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Materials Science
- Electrical Engineering
Background:
- Terahertz (THz) wave applications require efficient guiding structures.
- Conventional THz waveguides often suffer from high losses or complex fabrication.
- Subwavelength-diameter fibers offer potential for low-loss THz wave propagation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a simple and cost-effective plastic wire for guiding terahertz waves.
- To investigate the relationship between wavelength-to-fiber-core ratio and attenuation.
- To achieve low attenuation constants for terahertz wave propagation.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a subwavelength-diameter polyethylene plastic wire (200 micrometers).
- Guiding terahertz waves near 0.3 THz frequency range.
- Employing an off-axis parabolic mirror for free-space coupling.
Main Results:
- Achieved a low attenuation constant of approximately 0.01 cm⁻¹ or less.
- Demonstrated high direct free-space coupling efficiency up to 20%.
- Verified the effectiveness of a large wavelength-to-fiber-core ratio in reducing core power fraction and attenuation.
Conclusions:
- Simple plastic wires are effective and economical for terahertz wave guiding.
- Subwavelength fiber design significantly reduces effective attenuation.
- The developed method offers a practical solution for terahertz wave transmission.
