Abstract
We present a simple and cost-effective method for the fabrication of optical elements in the terahertz regime. Caramelized sucrose is used as the refractive medium in the frequency range from 0.1 to 0.4 THz. The absorption coefficient of 7 cm−1 and the high index of refraction of 2.45 at 0.3 THz enables the fabrication of thin optical elements in the near-millimeter wavelength range. The THz beam profiles of the fabricated parabolic lens in focus, evaluated with terahertz pulsed imaging, show the near diffraction limit performance.
Highlights
We present a simple and cost-effective method for the fabrication of optical elements in the terahertz regime
The first industrial applications had a significant impact on the development of cost-effective terahertz optics
For the sake of introductory stage prototyping, lenses made of materials easier-to-process than stone have emerged
Summary
We present a simple and cost-effective method for the fabrication of optical elements in the terahertz regime. We propose to use caramelized sugar for casting terahertz optics with a high refractive index for use in dry environments. Due to the high refractive index of caramel (mean value of 2.47 between 0.2and 0.4 THz), the theoretical focal length of the lens has shortened to 16.0 mm, i.e., almost three times compared to the polyethylene-based lens.
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