Highly Selective Terahertz Bandpass Filters Based on Trapped Mode Excitation

We present two types of metamaterial-based spectral bandpass filters for the terahertz (THz) frequency range. The metamaterials are specifically designed to operate for waves at normal incidence and to be independent of the field polarization. The functional structures are embedded in films of benzocyclobutene (BCB) resulting in large-area, free-standing and flexible membranes with low intrinsic loss. The proposed filters are investigated by THz time-domain spectroscopy and show a pronounced transmission peak with over 80% amplitude transmission in the passband and a transmission rejection down to the noise level in the stopbands. The measurements are supported by numerical simulations which evidence that the high transmission response is related to the excitation of trapped modes. (c) 2009 Optical Society of America