Due to the ability to tailor, customize, and control optical properties such as low or high refractive index, reduced dispersion, and absorption coefficient, glasses can be used as various passive as well as active optical components, such as waveguides, windows, lenses, and so on, at THz frequencies. Knowledge of THz refractive indices and absorption coefficients for various glass families across the THz bandwidth broadens the possibilities for glass selection in this frequency range for various applications encompassing broad areas of THz optics and photonics, specifically communication systems, security and defense, and medical diagnosis.
Researchers conducted detailed structural studies on all three glass families. They reported THz refractive indices across the measured THz bandwidth, resulting in structure-THz property relationships for the borosilicate, tellurite, and chalcogenide glass families. THz-TDS has been used to investigate the refractive index and absorption coefficient at THz frequencies of selected compositions within various glass families, as well as how it can be used as a nondestructive characterization technique in glass science and engineering.
THz-TDS was used to determine THz optical properties, such as refractive indices and absorption coefficients, across the measured bandwidth for the glass families borosilicate, tellurite, and chalcogenide. The data reveals the ability and composition of glass to achieve desired THz properties for THz applications. In some cases, the K and fitting parameters are comparable to the reported values, particularly for borosilicate and select chalcogenide glasses.
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