Slab-thickness dependence of polarization change of terahertz waves transmitted through metal hole arrays

Abstract

Polarization characteristics of the terahertz wave transmitted through metal hole arrays with the triangular lattice structure are investigated in the subterahertz region. The metal hole arrays used in our experiments are thin metal slabs perforated periodically with circular holes. The polarization rotation of the terahertz wave transmitted through the metal hole arrays occurs only in the spectral range of the resonant frequency of the surface waves. By investigating the dependence of this phenomenon on the thickness of the metal hole array, we attribute such polarization phenomenon to the resonant excitation of the surface waves. © 2006 American Institute of Physics.