3D-printed THz wave- and phaseplates

Three-dimensional printing based on fused deposition modeling has been shown to provide a cost-efficient and time-saving tool for fabricating a variety of THz optics for a frequency range of <0.2 THz. By using a broadband THz source, with a useful spectral range from 0.08 THz to 1.5 THz, we show that 3D-printed waveplates operate well up to 0.6 THz and have bandwidths similar to commercial products. Specifically, we investigate quarter- and half-waveplates, q-plates, and spiral phaseplates. We demonstrate a route to achieve broadband performance, so that 3D-printed waveplates can also be used with broadband, few-cycle THz pulses, for instance, in nonlinear THz spectroscopy or other THz high field applications.