Terahertz Full-polarization-state Detection by Nanowires

Abstract

Polarization encoding for pulsed terahertz (THz) systems are highly desired. For example, polarization-resolved THz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) allows studying the anisotropic dielectric properties of materials and even lead to new techniques such as the THz optical-Hall effect and THz polarimetry [1]. The polarization information of THz pulsed imaging helps correct the artifacts associated with birefringence and scattering from sample edge that enables high-resolution THz tomography. However, currently available measurement schemes for polarization sensing in pulsed THz systems are not practical. The existing polarization-sensitive detectors suffer from crosstalk between detection channels while polarization-insensitive detectors based on wire-grid THz polarizers are bulky and time-consuming. Thus, we propose a cross-nanowire detector structure [2] that enables fast and precise detection of the full polarization state of THz pulses. Show more