Prism coupling to terahertz surface plasmon polaritons

被引：59

作者：

O'Hara, JF ^{[1
]}

Averitt, RD ^{[1
]}

Taylor, AJ ^{[1
]}

机构：

[1] Los Alamos Natl Lab, MST CINT, Los Alamos, NM 87545 USA

来源：

OPTICS EXPRESS | 2005年 / 13卷 / 16期

关键词：

D O I：

10.1364/OPEX.13.006117

中图分类号：

O43 [光学];

学科分类号：

070207 ; 0803 ;

摘要：

Silicon prisms are used to couple free-space broadband terahertz into surface plasmon polariton (SPP) modes, otherwise known as surface electromagnetic waves (SEW) or Zenneck waves, on to polished metal surfaces. We show that coupling to surface waves occurs via edge-diffraction and hump-coupling and that attenuated total reflection is not an important coupling mechanism. Coupling and decoupling to a broadband, single-cycle SPP pulse is demonstrated with an energy efficiency of approximately 3.5%. Measurements of SPPs through thin plastic films reveal a strong surface sensitivity and suggest new configurations for maximizing THz SPP utility. (C) 2005 Optical Society of America.

引用

页码：6117 / 6126

页数：10