Experimental evaluation of low-loss/non-dispersive terahertz waveguides

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dc.contributor.authorSmith, Robert Levi
dc.contributor.supervisorDarcie, Thomas Edward
dc.date.accessioned2019-04-30T17:39:24Z
dc.date.available2019-04-30T17:39:24Z
dc.date.copyright2019en_US
dc.date.issued2019-04-30
dc.degree.departmentDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineeringen_US
dc.degree.levelDoctor of Philosophy Ph.D.en_US
dc.description.abstractLow-loss waveguides with minimal dispersion are desired throughout the electromagnetic spectrum. These properties are difficult to achieve in the Terahertz (THz) region due to material and geometric constraints. This thesis focuses on the design, fabrication, and testing of waveguide-based devices using two promising technologies: the free-space metallic-slit waveguide (MSWG) and the coplanar strip (CPS) waveguide on a thin (1 um) commercial silicon nitride membrane. The work presented here differs from standard THz waveguide research which commonly uses the field radiated by a photoconductive antenna (THz optics) for excitation and detection. To improve upon system integration, a focus is placed on planar waveguide devices without refractive THz elements. Three main waveguide devices are investigated. First, an edge-coupled MSWG-based linear tapered slot antenna (LTSA) was used for THz-Time Domain Spectroscopy (TDS). This device functions as an alternative to a standard photoconductive switch coupled to a silicon lens and maintains comparable performance. Next an edge-coupled tapered MSWG was investigated. The MSWG conductor separation was increased to a low-loss configuration where the field propagated for 24 mm, after which the conductors were tapered to focus the field onto the receiving active region where a THz-bandwidth pulse was detected. Finally a CPS waveguide was fabricated on a thin silicon nitride membrane where a THz-bandwidth pulse was detected after propagating for 10 mm. The active regions for this device were fabricated using a unique method. This method results in the creation of thousands of small (40 um x 20 um) active regions (from a 4 mm x 4 mm host substrate) which can be placed anywhere for THz excitation and detection. The small active regions in conjunction with the CPS waveguide on the silicon nitride membrane provide an excellent platform for THz system testing. A single membrane can host many THz circuits which can be made ``active" by the placement of a few thin-film photoconductive devices. Main potential future applications include waveguide-based spectroscopy and coherent THz-bandwidth circuit analysis.en_US
dc.description.scholarlevelGraduateen_US
dc.identifier.bibliographicCitationR. Smith, A. Jooshesh, J. Zhang, and T. Darcie. THz-TDS using a photoconductive free-space linear tapered slot antenna transmitter. Opt. Express,25(9):10118, 2017.en_US
dc.identifier.bibliographicCitationR. Smith, A. Jooshesh, J. Zhang, and T. Darcie. Photoconductive generation and detection of THz-bandwidth pulses using near-field coupling to a free-space metallic slit waveguide. Opt. Express, 25(22):26492, 2017.en_US
dc.identifier.bibliographicCitationR. Smith, F. Ahmed, A. Jooshesh, J. Zhang, M. Jun, and T. Darcie. THz field enhancement by antenna coupling to a tapered thick slot waveguide. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 32:15878, 2014.en_US
dc.identifier.bibliographicCitationA. Jooshesh, L. Smith, M. Shirazi, V. Yekta, T. Tiedje, T. Darcie, and R. Gordon. Nanoplasmonics enhanced terahertz sources. Opt. Express, 22(23):27992, 2014.en_US
dc.identifier.bibliographicCitationR. Smith, T. Darcie, “Demonstration of a low-distortion terahertz system-on-chip using a CPS waveguide on a thin membrane substrate”, Opt. Express, [Accepted], 2019.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1828/10800
dc.languageEnglisheng
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.rightsAvailable to the World Wide Weben_US
dc.subjectTerahertzen_US
dc.subjectwaveguideen_US
dc.subjecttransmission lineen_US
dc.subjectexperimentalen_US
dc.subjectTSoCen_US
dc.subjectTerahertz System-on-chipen_US
dc.subjectTHzen_US
dc.subjectTHz-TDSen_US
dc.titleExperimental evaluation of low-loss/non-dispersive terahertz waveguidesen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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