|
| Polymer | Refractive index | Absorption | (°C) | Comments |
|
| Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) | 1.49 (650 nm) [10]
1.60 (1 THz) [19] | 0.15 dB/m (650 nm) [5]
60 dB/cm or 14 cm−1 (1 THz) [19] | 115 [38] | Most widespread optical polymer |
| Polycarbonate (PC) | 1.58 (650 nm) [10]
1.65 (1 THz) [19] | ~0.5 dB/m (650 nm) [39]
50 dB/cm or 12 cm−1 (1 THz) [19] | 150 [38] | High index and high |
| Polystyrene (PS) | 1.59 (650 nm) [10] | 0.11 dB/m (670 nm) [40] | 100 [10] | High index |
| Polyvinyl difluoride (PVDF) | 1.40 (1050 nm) [37] | | −30 [37] | Low index |
Cyclo-olefin polymer
Zeonex 480R | 1.53 (650 nm) [42]
1.52 (1 THz) [47] | 0.9 dB/cm or 0.2 cm−1 (1 THz) [47] | 138 [42] | Transparent for THz, low water absorption |
Cyclo-olefin copolymer
Topas | 1.53 (650 nm) [44]
1.52 (1 THz) [48] | 0.9 dB/cm or 0.2 cm−1 (1 THz) [48] | 80 [44] | Transparent for THz, low water absorption |
| Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) | 1.38 (visible) [19]
1.45 (1 THz) [19] | 9 dB/cm or 2 cm−1 [19], also
~1.3 dB/cm or ~0.3 cm−1 [18, 45] (1 THz)* | 160–240 | For use at THz frequencies |
| High density polyethylene (HDPE) | 1.54 (visible) [19]
1.53 (1 THz) [19] | 9 dB/cm or 2 cm−1 [19], also ~1.3 dB/cm or ~0.3 cm−1 [18, 46] (1THz)* | −135 | For use at THz
frequencies |
| Deuterated PMMA (PMMA-d8) | | 60 dB/km (650 nm) [53] | | Deuterated material |
| Cyclic transparent optical polymer (CYTOP) | 1.34 (visible) [51]
1.35 (1 THz) [52] | 40 dB/km (650 nm), 16 dB/km (850 nm), 20 dB/km (1300 nm) [49]
4 dB/cm or 1 cm−1 (1 THz) [52] | 108 [51] | Fluorinated material |
|
