A high-sensitivity terahertz sensing method using a metallic mesh with unique transmission properties

Metallic meshes work as band-pass filters in the terahertz (THz) region, with their transmission spectra acutely affected by the refractive index of the material inside and above the metallic-mesh openings. We used a metallic mesh for high-sensitivity observations by focusing on the dip, that is, a sudden change in transmittance that only appeared when the THz wave was obliquely incident onto the metallic mesh. Here we consider the interference between apertures of the metallic mesh in the diagonal direction and explain the dip using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) electromagnetic simulations. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.