Refractive Index Tuning of Terahertz Photonic Materials Based on a Stretchable Silicon Effective Medium

TL;DR

This paper introduces a mechanically stretchable silicon-based effective medium for terahertz photonics, enabling continuous, low-loss refractive index tuning through deformation, which facilitates adaptive control of THz wavefronts and polarization.

Contribution

The work presents a novel all-silicon, stretchable effective medium with tunable refractive index via mechanical deformation, combining low-loss properties with reconfigurability for THz applications.

Findings

Refractive index decreases by up to 8% at 12.6% elongation.

High transmission maintained below 0.6 THz during deformation.

Demonstrates deformation-induced anisotropy without increased extinction.

Abstract

Dynamically tunable terahertz (THz) photonics requires low-loss dielectric platforms with practical, continuous control of refractive index. Here we present a mechanically reconfigurable THz photonic material platform: a monolithic, all-silicon (Si) stretchable effective medium whose refractive index is tuned by deformation. A 200 micrometer-thick high-resistivity single-crystal Si slab was patterned into a subwavelength spiral-spring through-hole lattice, rendering bulk Si mechanically compliant while preserving its low-loss dielectric response. THz time-domain spectroscopy demonstrates high transmission below 0.6 THz and reveals a monotonic decrease in the effective refractive index under uniaxial stretching. At 12.6% elongation, the effective index decreases by 6% and 8% for polarizations perpendicular and parallel to the stretch direction, respectively, thereby demonstrating deformation-induced, controllable anisotropy without a detectable increase in extinction. This structurally engineered bulk-Si approach offers a process-compatible route to mechanically tunable, low-loss THz components for adaptive wavefront and polarization control.