3D-Printed Components for Cost-Effective Polarisation Sensing of Terahertz Radiation

This study covers the research on 3D-printed structures for the polarisation sensing in the terahertz (THz) frequency range. Proposed polarisers can be combined with various detectors to obtain cost-effective and easily accessible polarisation-sensitive sensors. Multiple commercially available filaments for 3D printing with various additives were used to obtain good-quality, efficient optical components. Fused deposition modelling (FDM) was selected as the manufacturing technique due to the reliable and repeatable results of 3D printing technology. The research focused on elements with sub-THz features designed to determine the polarisation of incident radiation. Manufactured polarisers have been tested in two setups, verifying narrow-band operation at the design wavelength as well as broad-band operation across the THz spectrum. Both setups allowed the change of the angular position of the examined elements around the optical axis. The final results proved the possibility of obtaining cost-efficient polarisers functioning comparable to the commercially available wire-grid polarisers. Constructive conclusions were drawn to determine the proper materials, their additives, the chosen fill factors (FFs), and the dimensions of the polarisers, ensuring optimal performance and efficiency in manipulating THz radiation.