Transmission through uniform layer of ice at low-THz frequencies

Ice formed on a radome is a common scenario for any sensors used in cold outdoor environment. Signal reduction due to presence a uniform layer of ice at low-THz waves is studied theoretically and experimentally in this paper. The reported refractive indices of ice in literature are reviewed and their dependency on temperature is investigated. The uniform layer of ice made of pure-water is produced in an environmental chamber at -7°C. Transmissivity of less than -6 dB and less than -17 dB for 40 mm of ice at 150 GHz and 300 GHz have been measured, respectively. These results show the potential of using low-THz sensor for outdoor applications.