Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy of absorbing materials

Abstract

In this paper, we study the noise-limited precision on the complex refractive index value of materials in the terahertz frequency range as determined by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. As absorbing samples are almost opaque, transmission measurements are not suitable to determine the refractive index and reflection indices have to be employed instead, but at the expense of precision. We give rules to select the most adapted technique, i.e. in transmission or in reflection, for any given sample of arbitrary transparence Full Text: PDF References M. van Exter and D. Grischkowsky, "Optical and electronic properties of doped silicon from 0.1 to 2 THz", Appl. Phys. Lett. 56, 1694 (1990); CrossRef Sensing with Terahertz Radiation, ed. D. Mittleman, Springer Series in Optical Sciences Vol. 85, Berlin (2003). DirectLink For example: http://www.menlosystems.com; , http://www.rainbowphotonics.com; , http://www.teraview.com; , http://www.ekspla.com; , http://www.picometrix.com; , http://www.zomega-terahertz.com; . T. Dorney, R. Baraniuk, and D. Mittleman, "Material parameter estimation with terahertz time-domain spectroscopy", J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 18, 1562 (2001); CrossRef I. Pupeza, R. Wilk, and M. Koch, "Highly accurate optical material parameter determination with THz time-domain spectroscopy", Opt. Exp. 15, Issue 7, 4335 (2007). CrossRef L. Thrane, R. H. Jacobsen, P. U. Jepsen, and S. R. Keiding, "THz reflection spectroscopy of liquid water", Chem. Phys. Lett. 240, 330 (1995); CrossRef S. C. Howells and L. A. Schlie, "Transient terahertz reflection spectroscopy of undoped InSb from 0.1 to 1.1 THz", Appl. Phys. Lett. 69, 550 (1996). CrossRef P. Uhd Jepsen and B. M. Fischer, "Dynamic range in terahertz time-domain transmission and reflection spectroscopy", Optics Letters 30, 29 (2005). CrossRef L. Duvillaret, F. Garet, J.-L. Coutaz, "Influence of noise on the characterization of materials by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy", J. Opt. Soc. Amer. B17, 452 (2000). CrossRef