Affordable terahertz components using 3D printing

This paper presents the design and characterization of 3D printed photonic crystal filter (quasi optic component) and dielectric ridge waveguide (integrated component). Commercially available 3D printer was used to print polymer based components. Design and characterization of these devices is carried out over a frequency range of 0.15 - 0.5 THz. The photonic crystal filter shows a stop band from 0.25 - 0.35 THz. Also a very narrow defect mode (notch filter) was introduced by altering the structure of photonic crystal. The dielectric ridge waveguide shows broadband THz propagation characteristics. The transmission loss was determined to be largely dominated by the loss characteristics of the polymer material used.