Design and measurement of a bandpass filter at 300 GHz based on a highly efficient binary grating

A bandpass filter for 300 GHz with a stopband at 450 GHz based on a highly efficient binary grating as a frequency-selective element was developed and optimized. The geometry of the grating was carefully designed for a maximum difference angle between reflected beams at 300 and 450 GHz and for maximum efficiency at 300 GHz. The grating efficiency was optimized using a rigorous theory of diffraction, yielding a maximum efficiency of over 99.5% neglecting conductor losses. Antennas and elliptical mirrors are used for optimum quasi-optical illumination of the grating and Gaussian beam shaping. After an optimization and a comprehensive examination of the grating in an experimental heterodyne measurement setup at 300 GHz, the filter was implemented fixed tuned into a small housing with waveguide flanges. The fixed tuned setup with corrugated feed horns results in an overall flange-to-flange insertion loss of only 2.8 dB. Index Terms--Filter design, quasi-optics, terahertz technology.