Patent Number: 
Section: abstract

An apparatus for transmitting or receiving terahertz waves includes an enclosure having a front opening, a rear opening, and an internal passageway therebetween. The enclosure includes an antenna mounting structure and a lens mounting structure. A terahertz photoconductive antenna is mounted within the enclosure against the antenna mounting structure. The terahertz photoconductive antenna has a rear side for being optically energized by an optical beam passing through the rear opening of the enclosure, and a front side for transmitting or receiving the terahertz waves through the front opening. A terahertz lens is mounted within the enclosure against the lens mounting structure. The terahertz lens is positioned between the front opening and the terahertz photoconductive antenna for converging the terahertz waves being transmitted or received. The antenna mounting structure and the lens mounting structure are configured to optically align the terahertz photoconductive antenna and the terahertz lens.