Development of Advanced Terahertz Optics Using Liquid Crystals

Liquid crystal devices manufactured with a commercially available material (E7) have been characterized with THz time-domain spectroscopy up to 4.5 THz. These LCDs were used to modulate the power output of a 3.4-THz quantum-cascade laser, attenuating the THz power through the device by up to 40% dependent both on the liquid crystal layer thickness and bias voltage applied.