Polarization-sensitive tunable extraordinary terahertz transmission based on a hybrid metal-vanadium dioxide metasurface

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a thermally tunable metasurface that modulates terahertz transmission using phase-changing vanadium dioxide, enabling applications like modulators and filters.

Contribution

It introduces a hybrid metal-VO2 metasurface with polarization-sensitive tunable terahertz transmission based on VO2 phase transition.

Findings

Transmission resonance shifts from 0.88 to 0.81 THz with VO2 phase change.

In metallic phase, transmission drops below 0.14 in 0.5-1.1 THz.

The metasurface functions as a terahertz modulator and switch.

Abstract

A thermally tunable extraordinary terahertz transmission in a hybrid metal-vanadium dioxide (VO2) metasurface is numerically demonstrated. The metasurface consists of a metal sheet perforated by square loops while the loops are connected with strips of VO2. The frequency and amplitude of the transmission resonance are modulated by controlling the conductivity of the VO2. For y-polarized incident field, the resonance transmission peak redshifts from 0.88 to 0.81 THz upon insulator-to-metallic phase transition of VO2. For x-polarized incident field, the transmission resonance at 0.81 THz is observed in the insulator phase. However, in the metallic phase of VO2, the electromagnetic field is effectively reflected in the 0.5-1.1 THz range with a transmission level lower than 0.14. The proposed metasurface can be utilized as a terahertz modulator, reconfigurable filter, or switch.