Dynamic Switching between Surface Wave and Plane Wave with MEMS-based Metasurface

ORAL

Abstract

We present polarization-insensitive dynamic surface wave (SW) switching at terahertz frequencies utilizing a MEMS-based metasurface. Our MEMS-based metasurface consists of a micro-cantilever array, enabling dynamic tuning between a plane wave (PW) and a SW for normal incidence of terahertz radiation. Through individual control of the driving voltages on the cantilever unit cells, we achieve nearly 2π phase modulation with minimal reflection amplitude modulation. Coupled mode theory (CMT) is employed to design the metasurface device and agrees with full-wave electromagnetic simulations. Our demonstration paves the road for terahertz multifunctional metasurface devices for spatial light modulation, dynamic beam steering, focusing, and beam coupling.

*Research supported by National Science Foundation under Grant No. ECCS-1810252.

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Presenters

  • Chunxu Chen

    • Mechanical Engineering, Boston University
    • Boston Univ

Authors

  • Chunxu Chen

    • Mechanical Engineering, Boston University
    • Boston Univ

  • Xiaoguang Zhao

    • Boston Univ

  • Kelson Kaj

    • Physics, University of California, San Diego
    • University of California, San Diego

  • Ian Hammock

    • Physics, University of California, San Diego
    • University of California, San Diego

  • Ke Wu

    • Boston Univ

  • Richard Averitt

    • Physics, University of California, San Diego
    • Physics, University Of California, San Diego
    • University of California, San Diego

  • Xin Zhang

    • Mechanical Engineering, Boston University
    • Mechanical Engineering, Boston university
    • Boston Univ