3D Printed Terahertz Diffraction Gratings And Lenses

Abstract

Abstract3D printing opens up an inexpensive, rapid, and versatile path to the fabrication of optical elements suited to the terahertz regime. The transmission of the plastics used in 3D printers, while generally decreasing with frequency, is usable over the range 0.1-2 THz. We have designed, fabricated, and tested regular and blazed gratings and aspherical lenses for operation at terahertz frequencies. We find that the measured performance matches our theoretical predictions. Abstract 3D printing opens up an inexpensive, rapid, and versatile path to the fabrication of optical elements suited to the terahertz regime. The transmission of the plastics used in 3D printers, while generally decreasing with frequency, is usable over the range 0.1-2 THz. We have designed, fabricated, and tested regular and blazed gratings and aspherical lenses for operation at terahertz frequencies. We find that the measured performance matches our theoretical predictions. Disciplines Engineering | Science and Technology Studies

Feasibility and Characterization of Common and Exotic Filaments for Use in 3D Printed Terahertz Devices

“…This is especially apparent in passive dielectric devices. Diffraction gratings [10] have been demonstrated, as have a range of lenses [11][12][13] and Quasi-Wollaston prisms [27]. In these devices, bulk absorption in the thermoplastic used leads to high absorption losses.…”

“…These modifications are aimed at enhancing optical (visible), mechanical and printing properties of the thermoplastic material. Lenses TOPAS Busch [13] Nylon Furlan [11] Visijet Crystal Squires [10] FullCure835 VeroWhite Zhang [12] 3 Experiment…”

3D printed optics with nanometer scale surface roughness

“…By lifting these constraints and providing integrated solutions that can be manufactured cost effectively even in small series, 3D printing has the potential to revolutionize design, prototyping, and fabrication of optical systems. To realize this potential, 3D printing must be refined to meet the needs of optical devices [13][14][15] . 3D printing is implemented in a variety of technologies including Direct Metal Laser Sintering, extrusion as in Fused Deposition Modeling and Fused Filament Fabrication, lamination as in Laminated Object Manufacturing, Drop-on-Demand (DoD) inkjet type printing where a wax like substance is jetted as micro-droplets, and polymerization through StereoLithography Apparatus (SLA).…”

On Surface Losses in Direct Metal Laser Sintering Printed Millimeter and Submillimeter Waveguides

“…3), a is the radius of the spheres and SR is the Hall-Huray surface ratio defined by, (2) where N is the number of spheres on an area A f lat . The following equation describes the skin depth, δ [14],…”

“…Some of these techniques have been used for fabrication of THz devices with an emphasis on optic components fabricated using, e.g. multi-jet-modelling in polylactide for creating optics or in 3D printed polymer resin which is sputter deposited with Au [2,3]. 3D-metal printing by selective laser melting (SLM) was used for the fabrication of terahertz optics in the form of a zone plate operating at 530 GHz, with over 90% reflection efficiency [4].…”