Open AccessExperimental investigations into capability of terahertz surface plasmons to bridge macroscopic air gaps
Author(s) -
V. V. Gerasimov,
B. A. Knyazev,
A. K. Nikitin,
G. N. Zhizhin
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.23.033448
Subject(s) - terahertz radiation , surface plasmon , optics , materials science , plasmon , optoelectronics , laser , wavelength , terahertz spectroscopy and technology , physics
Results of experimental and theoretical studies of the capability of terahertz surface plasmons (SPs) to cross macroscopic air gaps in a substrate (or between substrates) with admissible losses are presented. SPs were launched with quasi-cw free-electron laser radiation with 130 μm wavelength (λ). We managed to detect SPs passing across gaps as wide as 100 mm (or about 10(3)⋅λ), which is very promising for development of terahertz SP circuitry. The phenomenon was harnessed for splitting an SP beam into two new ones, guided by their own individual plane-surface substrates.