基于 3D 打印的THz 波导成型技术研究进展

本文首先介绍了太赫兹波导和3D 打印技术的发展现状。3D 打印作为一项新兴的技术，以数字模型文件为基础， 运用粉末状金属或塑料等可粘合材料通过逐层打印的方法构造实体，打破了传统THz 波导技术的局限性。本文介绍的3D 打印THz 波导利用聚合树脂作为打印材料，打印完成的THz 波导在其传输通路上镀500nm 的金，金的厚度足以支持THz 传播。利用这种方法可以打印出直波导、三维弯曲面、三维Y 劈和U 型波导等多种结构。3D 打印THz 波导除传输损耗 略高外，其传输模式及其特性与传统的金属波导基本一致，这种额外的传输损耗归咎于商业3D 打印机的精度。

Research Advance of Prototyping of Terahertz Waveguides Based on 3D Printing

The paper presents the development of Terahertz waveguides and 3D printing technology firstly, and then compared with the fabrication limitation of those conventional metal-based waveguides, 3D printing which is a new technology is based on digital models. Powder metals or plastics are used to print structure layer by layer. In this paper, the waveguides are initially printed in a polymer resin and the printed waveguide was sputter deposited with 500nm of Au. The thickness of Au is sufficient to support the propagation of THz. The printing structures include straight waveguides, 3D bends, 3D y-splitters and U-shaped structures. Albeit with slightly higher loss, the propagation properties of the 3D printing waveguides are similar to those in similar conventional metal-based waveguides. The additional loss is attributed to accuracy associated with the commercial 3D printers.