Kinetic inductance driven nanoscale 2D and 3D THz transmission lines

Abstract

We examine the unusual dispersion and attenuation of transverse electromagnetic waves in the few-THz regime on nanoscale graphene and copper transmission lines. Conventionally, such propagation has been considered to be highly dispersive, due to the RC-constant-driven voltage diffusion below 1THz and plasmonic effects at higher frequencies. Our numerical modelling between the microwave and optical regimes reveals that conductor kinetic inductance creates an ultra-broadband LC region. This resultant frequency-independent attenuation is an ideal characteristic that is known to be non-existent in macro-scale transmission lines. The kinetic-LC frequency range is dictated by the structural dimensionality and the free-carrier scattering rate of the conductor material. Moreover, up to 40x wavelength reduction is observed in graphene transmission lines.