A Highly Frequency-Selective 3D-Printed Dielectric Structure for the Terahertz Range

Abstract

In this paper, we present a terahertz transmission frequency-selective quasi surface (FSQS) that exhibits strong absorption lines and a periodic band-pass characteristic. The FSQS structure is created by laterally combining Fabry-Pérot resonators with different thicknesses. The transfer function of the FSQS can serve as a broadband reference for testing the signal integrity of the transmission path for broadband terahertz systems. The transfer function achieves a combination of band-pass characteristics and sharp resonances with a theoretical attenuation of over 80 dB and with quality factors of more than 40,000 for a combination of 36 resonators. A single FSQS made up of four resonators is 3D printed by fused deposition modeling using a low-loss cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) filament. Finally, the 3D-printed FSQS is characterized using both frequency-domain and time-domain terahertz spectroscopy. The results show an attenuation of over 42 dB and a quality factor above 100.