title: Characterization of bending loss in hollow flexible terahertz waveguides.
abstract: Attenuation characteristics of hollow, flexible, metal and metal/dielectric coated polycarbonate waveguides were investigated using an optically pumped far infrared (FIR) laser at 215 µm. The bending loss of silver coated polycarbonate waveguides were measured as a function of various bending angles, bending radii, and bore diameters. Minimal propagation losses of 1.77, 0.96 dB/m were achieved by coupling the lowest loss TE11 mode into the silver or gold coated waveguide, and HE11 mode into the silver/polystyrene coated waveguides respectively. The maximal bending loss was found to be less than 1 dB/m for waveguides of 2 to 4.1 mm bore diameters, with a 6.4 cm bend radius, and up to 150° bending angle. The investigation shows the preservation of single laser mode in smaller bore waveguides even at greater bending angles.
authors.affiliation: Sub-millimeter Wave Technology Laboratory, Department of Physics & Applied Physics, University of Massachusetts Lowell, MA 01854, USA. Pallavi_Doradla@student.uml.edu
authors.forename: Pallavi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Doradla
authors.forename: Cecil S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Jayant
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Giles
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D004735:Energy Transfer; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008027:Light; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D055053:Terahertz Radiation