PROCEEDINGS ARTICLE | May 19, 2006
Proc. SPIE. 6212, Terahertz for Military and Security Applications IV
KEYWORDS: Radar, Optical components, Optical filters, Output couplers, Signal attenuation, Dielectrics, Reflectivity, Gas lasers, Terahertz radiation, Transmittance
As short range, ground based, surveillance systems operating at terahertz frequencies continue to evolve,
increasing attention is being directed towards the behavior of dielectric materials at terahertz frequencies as well as the
behavior of optical components used to control terahertz radiation. This work provides an overview of several terahertz
optical components such as frequency selective filters, laser output couplers, artificial dielectrics, and electromagnetic
absorbers. In addition, a database was established that contains terahertz properties of common materials that have been
largely unexplored in this region of the spectrum. The database consists of transmittance and reflectance spectra of a
variety of materials measured using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy techniques from 175 GHz - 2 THz. In
addition, ultra-stable, CO<sub>2</sub> optically pumped, far-infrared gas lasers were used to collect fixed-frequency transmittance
data at 326 GHz, 584 GHz, and 1.04 THz. A Gunn oscillator was used for measurements at 94 GHz.
