Abstract-Terahertz plastic compound lenses

M. Wichmann, A. S. Mondol, N. Kocic, S. Lippert, T. Probst, M. Schwerdtfeger, S. Schumann, T. Hochrein, P. Heidemeyer, M. Bastian, G. Bastian, and M. Koch  »View Author Affiliations http://www.opticsinfobase.org/ao/abstract.cfm?uri=ao-52-18-4186

We present terahertz (THz) lenses made of highly refracting polymeric compounds which provide a better focusing performance and an increased functionality in comparison to conventional THz lenses. Using mixtures consisting of polypropylene (PP) and alumina as well as PP and zinc sulfide allows a significant increase of the refractive index while simultaneously keeping a low extinction and dispersion. With these new material combinations, lenses with an increased focusing capability are realized. This is evaluated by focal plane measurements using a fiber coupled THz time-domain spectrometer.