High-Performance Metal-Grid Polarizers on Polymeric Films for Broadband Terahertz Spectroscopy

Abstract

The high-performance broadband terahertz polarizers based on one-dimensional metal grids on carrying thin-film polymeric substrates were developed and manufactured. THz time-domain spectroscopy was used to study their power transmission (PT) and extinction ratio (ER) in the range of 0.2–2 THz. A tandem structure of two polarizers patterned on top of 4-μm-thick polypropylene film showed the best overall characteristics: PT > 95%, while ER exceeded the system dynamic range which spanned from 107:1 to 104:1. The developed polarizers can be used for polarization-sensitive measurements of anisotropic and optically active materials.