Passive Terahertz Devices Based on Optically Excited Silicon

The demand for broader bandwidth and faster data transmission coupled with more secure and robust short range networks will push demands for communication systems into these terahertz frequencies. THz research has focused mainly on biomedical or spectroscopic applications whereas applications in communication systems have rarely been discussed in the literature. As such, there has been a general lack of development of§critical beam controlling and switching techniques as well as devices for these frequencies. The thrust of the work in this book is to attempt bridging this gap by introducing passive THz devices, a highly efficient non-resonant modulator and a lens based on optically excited silicon. Underlying theoretical model behind the calculations is the Drude-Lorentz model. The optical properties of boron-doped silicon are calculated based on this model. It is shown the transmission will be zero by generating free carriers in the sample, which proves this silicon sample should be a good modulator candidate. This book should help the scientists who are interested in doing THz research, especially communication application of this frequency range.