Erlangen 2022 – scientific programme
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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 18: Laser and Laser Applications
Q 18.3: Talk
Tuesday, March 15, 2022, 11:00–11:15, Q-H15
3D-Printed Fresnel Lenses for Terahertz Frequencies Using a Cyclic Olefin Copolymer (TOPAS) — •Konstantin Wenzel1, Sarah Klein2, Martin Traub2, Jonas Merit2, Christian Vedder2, Martin Schell1,3, Björn Globisch1,3, and Lars Liebermeister1 — 1Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute, Einsteinufer 37, 10587 Berlin, Germany — 2Fraunhofer-Institute for Laser Technology, Steinbachstraße 15, 52074 Aachen, Germany — 3Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Festkörperphysik, Hardenbergstraße 36, 10623 Berlin, Germany
In recent years, the field of terahertz (THz) technology has developed rapidly. With the improvement of transmitters and detectors, optics is in the need to catch up. Currently, off-axis parabolic mirrors or lenses are used as focusing THz optical-elements. Such lenses are usually manufactured from bulk materials as polymers or silicon, e.g. by grinding or cutting, or by compression molding of powders. With the advent of affordable and accurate 3D printers that utilize fused material deposition, a flexible and readily available method for fabricating complex terahertz optical components is now available. Here, we present two- and three-zone Fresnel lenses fabricated by a commercial 3D printer using a cyclic olefin copolymer (TOPAS). TOPAS exhibits particularly low absorption and dispersion and prints well with standard printers. We measured the frequency-dependent beam profile of lenses up to 4 THz and the effects of fabrication onto the scattering. The direct comparison with traditionally manufactured lenses of equal design demonstrates the potential of this fabrication technique.