Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of surface roughness on terahertz transmission spectra

  • Published:
Optical and Quantum Electronics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Terahertz (THz) transmission spectroscopy is widely used to obtain spectra of materials by measuring the electric field of a THz pulse in the time domain. However, time-domain waveforms are easily influenced by the surface roughness, which generates random noise and reduces the detection reliability. In this paper, we target the problem of roughness in the real-life application of THz time-domain spectroscopy. First, we investigate the influence of the sample surface roughness on the THz transmission spectra by establishing an analytical model that relates the sample transmission spectra to the sample surface roughness, refractive index and extinction coefficient. Then, we perform experiments with a THz transmission spectroscopy system using specific samples with different roughness values prepared in a well-controlled manner. By comparing the analytical model to the experimental results, this work accurately evaluates the effects of the surface roughness on THz transmission spectra. We do not address any new physics or any new device, but we provide a deeper understanding of the effects of the surface roughness on THz transmission spectra and a good theoretical reference to calibrate the spectra of rough samples.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arbab, M.H., Winebrenner, D.P., Thorsos, E.I., Chen, A.: Retrieval of terahertz spectroscopic signatures in the presence of rough surface scattering using wavelet methods. Appl. Phys. Lett. 97(18), 1–3 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernier, M., Garet, F., Kato, E., Blampey, B., Coutaz, J.L.: Comparative study of material parameter extraction using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy in transmission and in reflection. J. Infrared Millim. Terahertz Waves 39(4), 349–366 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cacciari, I., Siano, S.: Use of THz reflectometry for roughness estimations of archeological metal surfaces. J. Infrared Millim. Terahertz Waves 38(4), 503–517 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, T., Wang, X., Han, P., Sun, W., Feng, S., Ye, J., Zhang, Y.: First-and second-order photon–phonon interactions and optical parameters of ZnTe crystal: a broadband terahertz time-domain spectroscopy study. J. Phys. D Appl. Phys. 52(45), 455101 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, Y., Wang, Y., Niu, Y., Zhao, Z.: Concealed object enhancement using multi-polarization information for passive millimeter and terahertz wave security screening. Opt. Express 28(5), 6350–6366 (2020)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham, P.D., Valdes, N.N., Vallejo, F.A., Hayden, L.M., Polishak, B., Zhou, X.H., Twieg, R.J.: Broadband terahertz characterization of the refractive index and absorption of some important polymeric and organic electro-optic materials. J. Appl. Phys. 109(4), 043505–043505 (2011)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • D’Angelo, F., Mics, Z., Bonn, M., Turchinovich, D.: Ultra-broadband THz time-domain spectroscopy of common polymers using THz air photonics. Opt. Express 22(10), 12475–12485 (2014)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Dikmelik, Y., Spicer, J.B., Fitch, M.J., Osiander, R.: Effects of surface roughness on reflection spectra obtained by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. Opt. Lett. 31(24), 3653–3655 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Fan, S., Parrott, E.P., Ung, B.S., Pickwell-MacPherson, E.: Calibration method to improve the accuracy of THz imaging and spectroscopy in reflection geometry. Photonics Res. 4(3), A29–A35 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jansen, C., Wietzke, S., Koch, M.: Terahertz spectroscopy of polymers. In: Terahertz spectroscopy and imaging, pp. 327–353. Springer, Berlin (2012)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Knipper, R., Brahm, A., Heinz, E., May, T., Notni, G., Meyer, H.G., Popp, J.: THz absorption in fabric and its impact on body scanning for security application. IEEE Trans. Terahertz Sci. Technol. 5(6), 999–1004 (2015)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, R., Li, C., Li, H., Wu, S., Fang, G.: Study of automatic detection of concealed targets in passive terahertz images for intelligent security screening. IEEE Trans. Terahertz Sci. Technol. 9(2), 165–176 (2018)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Murrill, S.R., Franck, C.C., Jacobs, E.L., Petkie, D.T., De Lucia, F.C.: Enhanced MMW and SMMW/THz imaging system performance prediction and analysis tool for concealed weapon detection and pilotage obstacle avoidance. Appl. Opt. 56(3), B231–B239 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palka, N., Szala, M.: Transmission and reflection terahertz spectroscopy of insensitive melt-cast high-explosive materials. J. Infrared Millim. Terahertz Waves 37(10), 977–992 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peretti, R., Mitryukovskiy, S., Froberger, K., Mebarki, M.A., Eliet, S., Vanwolleghem, M., Lampin, J.F.: THz-TDS time-trace analysis for the extraction of material and metamaterial parameters. IEEE Trans. Terahertz Sci. Technol. 9(2), 136–149 (2018)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Schecklman, S., Zurk, L.M., Henry, S., Kniffin, G.P.: Terahertz material detection from diffuse surface scattering. J. Appl. Phys. 109(9), 094902 (2011)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Scheller, M.: Data extraction from terahertz time domain spectroscopy measurements. J. Infrared Millim. Terahertz Waves 35(8), 638–648 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soltani, A., Jahn, D., Duschek, L., Castro-Camus, E., Koch, M., Withayachumnankul, W.: Attenuated total reflection terahertz time-domain spectroscopy: uncertainty analysis and reduction scheme. IEEE Trans. Terahertz Sci. Technol. 6(1), 32–39 (2016)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Son, H., Choi, D.H., Park, G.S.: Improved thickness estimation of liquid water using Kramers–Kronig relations for determination of precise optical parameters in terahertz transmission spectroscopy. Opt. Express 25(4), 4509–4518 (2017)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Song, Y., Li, Y., Pang, S., Zhao, S., Wang, H.: RCS measurement at terahertz waves for cylinders with different surface roughness. Electron. Lett. 54(11), 714–716 (2018)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Z.: The influence of surface roughness on conductor at terahertz frequencies. Optik 125(13), 3237–3240 (2014)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Wietzke, S., Jansen, C., Reuter, M., Jung, T., Kraft, D., Chatterjee, S., Koch, M.: Terahertz spectroscopy on polymers: a review of morphological studies. J. Mol. Struct. 1006(1–3), 41–51 (2011)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Withayachumnankul, W., Naftaly, M.: Fundamentals of measurement in terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. J. Infrared Millim. Terahertz Waves 35(8), 610–637 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, X., Li, J., Pi, Y., Liu, T., Wang, H.: Joint multistatic THz imaging radars for standoff personnel screening. J. Appl. Remote Sens. 12(3), 034002 (2018)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Thanks to the Fundamental Research Funds for the China Central University of USTB (FRF-BD-17-002A).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Automation and Electrical Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China

    Yang Yu, Zhaohui Zhang, Tianyao Zhang, Xiaoyan Zhao, Yan Chen, Can Cao & Ying Li

  2. Beijing Engineering Research Center of Industrial Spectrum Imaging, Beijing, 100083, China

    Yang Yu, Zhaohui Zhang, Tianyao Zhang, Xiaoyan Zhao, Yan Chen, Can Cao & Ying Li

  3. University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China

    Kaikai Xu

Authors
  1. Yang Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zhaohui Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tianyao Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xiaoyan Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yan Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Can Cao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Ying Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Kaikai Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhaohui Zhang.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yu, Y., Zhang, Z., Zhang, T. et al. Effects of surface roughness on terahertz transmission spectra. Opt Quant Electron 52, 240 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-020-02365-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-020-02365-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation