title: Terahertz plasmonic waveguides created via 3D printing.
abstract: We demonstrate that 3D printing, commonly associated with the manufacture of large objects, allows for the fabrication of high quality terahertz (THz) plasmonic structures. Using a commercial 3D printer, we print a variety of structures that include abrupt out-of-plane bends and continuously varying bends. The waveguides are initially printed in a polymer resin and then sputter deposited with ~500 nm of Au. This thickness of Au is sufficient to support low loss propagation of surface plasmon-polaritons with minimal impact from the underlying layer, thereby demonstrating a useful approach for fabricating a broad range of plasmonic structures that incorporate complex geometries. Using THz time-domain spectroscopy, we measure the guided-wave properties of these devices. We find that the propagation properties of the guided-wave modes are similar to those obtained in similar conventional metal-based waveguides, albeit with slightly higher loss. This additional loss is attributed to roughness associated with limitations that currently exist in commercial 3D printers.
authors.forename: Shashank
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Barun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Ajay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nahata