THz interconnect with low-loss and low-group velocity dispersion

We report the demonstration of a physically flexible, practicable THz inter connect with minimal pulse distortion and loss. The interconnect is a paral lel-plate waveguide with the TEM mode excited, constructed of two thin copp er strips. The incoming 0.22 ps THz pulse broadens to 0.39 ps after propaga ting 250 mm in the waveguide and is also attenuated by a factor of ten. We show that this attenuation is mainly due to the finite conductivity of copp er with some additional loss caused by the beam spread in the unguided dime nsion. The pulse broadening is due to the frequency-dependent loss since th e group velocity dispersion is negligible.