The THz regime is the bridge between optics and electronics. Unfortunately, there is still a lack of ma-terials and devices in this spectrum area. We want to use technology currently being optimized in our lab based on thin polymer films. The project aims to develop THz low pass filters, devices essential for most THz applications. The new filters will be based on metamaterial structures on a thin film of a THz transparent polymer. In addition, the MSc student will work on the characterization of the filters with state-of-the-art equipment and with COMSOL Multiphysics for the simulation of the devices (figure 1 (a&b).

We are looking for motivated students with a background in physics, material science, electrical engi-neering, or chemistry for an MSc thesis in Transport at Nanoscale Interfaces Laboratory at Empa.

During the project, the MSc student will work on the following:

• The development of thin films using TOPAS
• Cleanroom fabrication of low-pass filters
• COMSOL Multiphysics simulations using a Radio Frequency module
• THz time-domain spectroscopy for the characterization of the filters
• Matlab/python for analyzing data

Figure 1. a) Blender illustration of THz-TDS b) COMSOL simulation of an LP filter.

Relevant references for the project:

• Singh et al., Design of THz low pass filter using split-ring resonators, Optik - International Jour-nal for Light and Electron Optics 247 (2021) 16792
• Senica et al., An antipodal Vivaldi antenna for improved far-field properties and polarization manipulation of broadband terahertz quantum cascade lasers, Appl. Phys. Lett. 116, 161105 (2020)

The simulations, fabrication, and characterization of low-pass THz filters.

Interested candidates can email their CVs with a short motivation letter to Dr. Elena Mavrona (eleni.mavrona@empa.ch); also, they can contact her if they need further information.