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Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Simulation, Fabrication and Characterization of THz Metamaterial Absorbers
Published on: December 27, 2012
Coupling terahertz radiation between sub-wavelength metal-metal waveguides and free space using monolithically
J Lloyd-Hughes1, G Scalari, A van Kolck
1Institute for Quantum Electronics, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Broadband horn antennae are presented that efficiently couple terahertz radiation between sub-wavelength metal-metal waveguides and free space. Sub-picosecond terahertz pulses were coupled into and out from sub-wavelength parallel-plate waveguides by using the horn antennae in a terahertz time-domain spectrometer. Monolithic antennae were fabricated at the facets of metal-metal terahertz quantum cascade lasers, and laser action was observed for devices emitting at 1.4 THz, 2.3 THz and 3.2 THz. A good far-field laser radiation pattern (FWHM less than 11 degrees) is obtained as a result of the significant expansion of the optical mode by the antenna.
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