Terahertz waves can be guided with low losses along thin layers of a strongly absorbing medium embedded in a dielectric. By means of end-fire coupling experiments, we demonstrate the polarization dependent excitation, propagation, and detection of this loss-guided mode, demonstrating long propagation lengths for terahertz radiation along thin water films. Broadband frequency and time resolved analysis using transmission terahertz time domain spectroscopy are performed. A theoretical model is used to isolate the coupled mode from co-propagating spurious modes. Hereby, experimental propagation lengths in the cm range are demonstrated, 2–3 orders of magnitude above the intrinsic propagation length in bulk water.
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