Method and apparatus for low-loss signal transmission

A low-loss RF waveguide, comprising:

• a hollow core;
• a flexible honeycomb, periodic-bandgap fiber surrounding the hollow core;
• a dielectric ribbon-guide positioned within the hollow core such that the hollow core has a first cross-sectional dimension and a second cross-sectional dimension, wherein the first cross-sectional dimension is not equal to the second cross-sectional dimension;
• and
• wherein the low-loss RF waveguide is formed to operate in a range of approximately 300 GHz to approximately 30 THz;
• wherein the flexible honeycomb, periodic-bandgap fiber comprises a plurality of tubes having approximately equal cross-sectional geometry;
• wherein the tubes are formed of a material selected from a group consisting of low-loss quartz, polyethylene, and high-resistivity silicon;
• wherein the hollow core is over-moded;
• and
• wherein the hollow core has a substantially circular cross-section.

A fiberscope comprising:

• a low-loss RF waveguide, comprising:
• a hollow core;
• a flexible honeycomb, periodic-bandgap fiber surrounding the hollow core, wherein the low-loss RF waveguide operates in a range of approximately 300 GHz to approximately 30 THz;
• a dielectric ribbon-guide positioned within the hollow core such that the hollow core has a first cross-sectional dimension and a second cross-sectional dimension, wherein the first cross-sectional dimension is not equal to the second cross-sectional dimension;
• and
• a terahertz signal source coupled with the low-loss RF waveguide.

A method for guiding RF signals, the method comprising acts of:

• forming a flexible honeycomb, periodic-bandgap fiber around a hollow core;
• and
• positioning a dielectric ribbon-guide within the hollow core such that the hollow core has a first cross-sectional dimension and a second cross-sectional dimension, wherein the first cross-sectional dimension is not equal to the second cross-sectional dimension;
• resulting in a low-loss RF waveguide such that the RF waveguide is operable for receiving RF signals in the range of approximately 300 GHz to approximately 30 THz.

A method of imaging, the method comprising acts of:

• utilizing a low-loss RF waveguide, where the low-loss RF waveguide comprises:
• a hollow core;
• a flexible honeycomb, periodic-bandgap fiber surrounding the hollow core;
• and
• a dielectric ribbon-guide positioned within the hollow core such that the hollow core has a first cross-sectional dimension and a second cross-sectional dimension, wherein the first cross-sectional dimension is not equal to the second cross-sectional dimension;
• passing a signal having a frequency in the range of approximately 300 GHz to approximately 30 THz into the low-loss RF waveguide;
• reflecting the signal off of an object, resulting in a reflected signal;
• and receiving the reflected signal.