Single-wire transmission lines at terahertz frequencies

• Published in: IEEE transactions on microwave theory and techniques Vol. 54; no. 6; pp. 2762 - 2767
• Main Authors: Akalin, T., Treizebre, A., Bocquet, B.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01-06-2006; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biomicroelectromechanical systems (bioMEMS); Biosensors; Broadband; Circuit properties; Coplanar transmission lines; coplanar waveguide (CPW) transition; Coplanar waveguides; Electric, optical and optoelectronic circuits; Electromagnetic propagation; Electromagnetic waveguides; Electronics; Engineering Sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Excitation; Frequency; Goubau line; Microfluidics; Microwave circuits, microwave integrated circuits, microwave transmission lines, submillimeter wave circuits; Microwaves; Quartz; Strips; Surface waves; terahertz; Terahertz frequencies; transmission line; Transmission lines; Waveguide transitions; High resolution; Biomicroelectromechanical systems (bioMEMS); Surface wave; THz range; Goubau line; Transmission line; coplanar waveguide (CPW) transition; Wide band; terahertz; Tapered waveguide section; Coplanar waveguides; Spatial resolution; Microfluidics; Planar technology; Waveguide transitions; Strips; Transmission lines; Surface waves; Coplanar transmission lines; Electromagnetic waveguides; Frequency; Biosensors; Electromagnetic propagation
• ISSN: 0018-9480; 1557-9670
• DOI: 10.1109/TMTT.2006.874890

In this paper, we report results on an original way to excite surface waves on a single-wire transmission line. Although these waves were proposed many decades ago by Goubau, the novelty of our structures is to achieve a broadband planar excitement. This configuration is very well suited for the terahertz frequency range and allows the investigation of biological entities with high spatial resolution with the use of novel biomicroelectromechanical systems, which include microfluidic functions. From experimental results, we compare different types of transitions from coplanar waveguides, and different substrates are also used. We show that the excitation is highly efficient and broadband for structures on a quartz substrate