Compact multiband left-handed metamaterial at terahertz frequencies

We design and analyze a novel multiband left-handed metamaterial based on a fishnet-like structure at terahertz (THz) frequencies.The metamaterial exhibits simultaneous negative refractions around the frequencies of 0.48,1.05,and 1.19 THz for the electromagnetic (EM) wave normal incidence,and around the frequencies of 0.20,0.79,and 1.13 THz for parallel incidence.The simulated results verify the left-handed properties.A particularly important observation is the capability of the proposed metamaterial with a single geometrical structure to display multifrequency operations in a unit cell.The compact metamaterial is a major step toward the miniaturization of THz materials and devices suitable for multifrequencies.     

Terahertz wave narrow bandpass filter based on photonic crystal

We designed a narrow bandpass terahertz wave filter using photonic crystals with a line defect. An inserted linear defect in one-dimensional photonic crystal structures for a channeled filtering in the terahertz range are studied and designed theoretically. By using transfer matrix method, we examined the transmittance spectra for the proposed terahertz wave filter has a 3 dB transmission loss bandwidth of 20 MHz ranging from 0.29998 THz to 0.30001 THz. The simulated results show that a very narrow transmission band and high transmission (higher than 99.99%) centered at λ₀, and very sharp edges can be achieved.     

基于平行金属双柱的太赫兹波二维左手材料

基于产生负介电常数的周期性金属线单元结构,利用平行金属双柱设计了具有双负通带的两种太赫兹波段二维左手材料。应用时域有限积分算法研究了二维左手材料的传输特性,仿真结果表明,在0.76THz附近,平行金属双柱的表面电荷振荡与反向平行电流引发了电磁谐振,出现良好的负折射效应。在0.75～0.78THz之间同时具有负等效磁导率和负等效介电常数,双负通带带宽约为0.03THz。进一步研究了金属双柱间距、长度及基板厚度等结构参数对双负通带带宽的影响。研究结果为太赫兹波段左手材料的设计和研制提供了参考。     

The terahertz spectrum detection of transgenic food

This paper presents the optical characteristic of the four transgenic foods in the terahertz (THz) by means of electro-optic sampling. The transmission spectra and complex refractive index of the four transgenic foods are obtained. This paper finds that transgenic maize (TGM), transgenic rice (TGR), transgenic soybean (TGS) and transgenic potato (TGP) all have absorption within the frequency range of 0.2 and 2.5 THz. It can be seen that the TGM and TGR have obvious absorption peaks at 1.08 and 1.82 THz respectively, the TGS has a plurality of absorption peak in this frequency band, compared to the other three samples, and the TGP is slow. The unique absorption properties in THz of four transgenic foods show that the time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy can be applied to detect and identify transgenic food.     

Terahertz transmission properties of four metamaterials

We investigated the power transmission properties of four metamaterials in terahertz regime. The measured results reveal a global maximum transmission peak at 2.52 THz, and some local transmission peaks. In order to find a best metamaterials with relatively high transmission efficiency, we compared measured power transmission performances of four types of metamaterials microstructures, and analyzed their transmission differences.     

基于蘑菇型结构的双入射超宽带复合媒质材料设计与分析

通过设计一定的单元结构, 可以实现超宽带人工电磁材料. 基于蘑菇型金属结构, 提出了一种同时具有左右手通带无缝结合的超宽带双入射型复合媒质材料结构单元. 该结构由嵌入到介质板的两个反向对称的蘑菇型金属结构组成, 能够同时引发电谐振和磁谐振而得到左手通带. 通过利用CST软件仿真、等效电磁参数提取、折射率计算以及建立等效磁谐振电路模型等方法, 分析验证了该结构的双入射特性和左手特性. 仿真结果表明, 在电磁波垂直于介质板和平行于介质板入射两种情况下, 在X波段均表现出左手通带特性, 并具有1 GHz以上的左手带宽. 当电磁波垂直于介质板入射时, 在7.2 GHz-9.3 GHz频段为右手通带, 在9.3 GHz-11 GHz频段为左手通带; 当电磁波平行于介质板入射时, 在7.0 GHz-9.0 GHz频段为右手通带, 在9.0 GHz-10 GHz频段为左手通带. 在两种情况下分别于9.3 GHz与9.0 GHz处得到了零折射率, 从而构造了一种正-零-负复合媒质材料, 实现了具有3 GHz带宽的双入射超宽带平衡结构.     

一种光激发可切换的双频太赫兹超材料吸收器

提出了一种基于方环-金属线结构的光激发动态可切换双频太赫兹超材料吸收器。通过调节嵌入在结构间隙中的光敏硅和锗的绝缘/导通状态,该吸收器可在不改变结构的前提下在三个双频完美吸收态之间自由切换。结果表明:当没有光泵浦时,该吸收器工作在0.987 THz和1.767 THz双频吸收态;当采用800 nm激光泵浦时,该吸收器可切换为0.717 THz和1.444 THz处的双频吸收;当采用1550 nm激光泵浦时,该吸收器的吸收状态可切换为0.716 THz和1.767 THz处的双频吸收。本文从等效电路、匹配阻抗和电流分布三方面解释了三种可切换的双频吸收机制,并讨论了极化不敏感的吸收特性。     

Dual bands of negative refractive indexes in the planar left-handed metamaterials

A kind of planar left-handed metamaterial (LHM) with unique configurations is demonstrated, which offers an approach in building dual-band negative-index materials. Simulated and experimental results predict two left-handed transmission bands near 11.1 and 14.6 GHz. Dual bands of negative refractive indexes are verified using the retrieval procedure. Field and current distribution at the dual magnetic resonance are also examined. The effective electromagnetic parameters show that by carefully adjusting dimensions of the unit cell, electric and magnetic resonances can be coexistent at some frequency ranges with both negative permittivity and negative permeability. The idea can help us designing planar negative-index materials with multibands.     

新型复合左右手传输线及其在滤波器设计中的应用

开环谐振器阵列由于结构庞大, 难以实现小型化, 而逆开环谐振器则由于刻蚀在接地板上, 容易对微波电路中其他部件造成干扰. 针对上述问题, 提出了一种新型双层介质复合左右手传输线结构, 并提取了其等效相对介电常数和等效相对磁导率, 然后分析了新结构的尺寸参数对其传输特性的影响程度, 最后将一种新型Minkowski分形曲线应用于该结构, 设计和制作了两款双频滤波器, 验证了该复合左右手传输线的双频特性.     

Measurement of nonlinear absorption coefficients in GaAs, InP and Si by an optical pump THz probe technique

An optical pump terahertz (THz) probe method for measuring carrier mobility and multiphoton absorption coefficients in semiconductors is demonstrated. A THz probe pulse is used to detect the transient photoconductivity generated by an optical pump pulse. The change in transmission coefficient at THz frequencies due to a pump pulse with photon energy greater than the band gap energy is used to determine the sum of electron and hole mobilities. The weak nonlinear absorption of a pump pulse with photon energy less than the band gap energy produces an approximately uniform free carrier distribution. The THz transmission coefficient vs. pump fluence, and the mobility, are used in a bulk photoconductivity model to determine the multiphoton absorption coefficients. For GaAs, InP and Si we find two photon absorption coefficients at 1305 nm of 42.5 ± 11, 70 ± 18 and 3.3 ± 0.9 cm/GW, respectively. For GaAs and InP we determine three photon absorption coefficients at 2144 nm of 0.19 ± 0.07 and 0.22 ± 0.08 cm³/GW².     

Thermally controlled multiband,mode-switching plasmonic filter operating at terahertz frequencies

A thermally controlled multiband, mode-switching plasmonic filter with periodic subwavelength metal asterisk-shaped air hole arrays has been proposed in the terahertz range. Utilizing the changing properties to terahertz wave propagating on the metal-semiconductor interface and in the semiconductor InSb at varying temperature, thermally controlled multiband, mode-switching plasmonic filter owns an excellent tuning ability to terahertz wave. The simulation results show that the maximum transmittance of the structure is 99.8% at 434 GHz, 80 K, the bandwidths at 80 K are 56 GHz at 0.434 THz, 14 GHz at 944 GHz and maximum intensity modulation depth could reach to 99.8% at 434 GHz between 80 K and 373 K.     

Giant optical activity and circular dichroism in the terahertz region based on bi-layer Y-shaped chiral metamaterial

We present a bi-layer Y-shaped chiral metamaterial (CMM) that can realize a giant optical activity and circular dichroism (CD) effect to the incident linear polarization wave in the terahertz (THz) region. Numerical simulation results exhibit that the pronounced CD effect with a great difference between the transmission coefficients for the circularly polarized waves can be obtained at 5.06 THz, meanwhile the 90°-polarization rotation can be observed at 5.2 THz when a y-polarized wave is incident to this CMM propagating along the −z-axis. The mechanism of the optical activity and giant CD effect is illustrated by simulated surface current distributions. Further, the influences of the structural parameters of the proposed CMM to the optical activity and CD effect have been investigated numerically.     

Design and analysis of a metallic waveguide with a DAST cap for continuously phase-matched terahertz difference frequency generation

We present a novel source for continuous terahertz (THz) wave generation using an organic ionic salt, 4-dimethylamino-N-methyl-4-stilbazolium-tosylate (DAST). THz waves are generated based on difference frequency generation (DFG) in the device. Phase matching condition and THz generation between 1.3 THz and 2.7 THz, for optical pump around 1.6 μm, are investigated. Our calculations predict that the device produces a relatively high THz output power of 11.07 μW from a 4 cm long waveguide at 2 THz.     

Growth of thin Fe(0 0 1) films for terahertz emission experiments

The electrical and magnetic properties of thin iron (Fe) films have sparked significant scientific interest. Our interest, however, is in the fundamental interactions between light and matter. We have discovered a novel application for thin Fe films. These films are sources of terahertz (THz) radiation when stimulated by an incident laser pulse. After intense femtosecond pulse excitation by a Ti:sapphire laser, these films emit picosecond, broadband THz frequencies. The terahertz emission provides a direct measure of the induced ultrafast change in magnetization within the Fe film. The THz generation experiments and the growth of appropriate thin Fe films for these experiments are discussed. Several criteria are used to select the substrate and film growth conditions, including that the substrate must permit the epitaxial growth of a continuous, monocrystalline or single crystal film, yet must also be transparent to the emitted THz radiation. An Fe(0 0 1) film grown on the (0 0 1) surface of a magnesium oxide (MgO) substrate makes an ideal sample. The Fe films are grown by physical vapor deposition (PVD) in an ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) system. Low energy electron diffraction (LEED) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) are used to characterize the Fe(0 0 1) films. Two substrate surface preparation methods are investigated. Fe(0 0 1) films grown on MgO(0 0 1) substrates that are used as-received and films grown on MgO(0 0 1) substrates that have been UV/ozone-cleaned ex vacuo and annealed in vacuo produce the same results in the THz generation experiments. Either substrate preparation method permits the growth of samples suitable for the THz emission experiments.     

An improved fishnet three-dimensional metamaterial with multiband left-handed characteristics at terahertz frequencies

We present the design of a multiband left-handed three-dimensional (3D) metamaterial based on improved fishnet structure at terahertz frequencies. The design realizes a three-dimensional material by mechanical stacking of multiple layers. The electromagnetic properties of the metamaterial have been investigated by numerical simulation. The results show that simultaneously negative values of permittivity, permeability and refractive index are found around the frequencies of 0.73, 0.85 and 1.12 THz for the electromagnetic wave normal incidence. The proposed metamaterial with independent polarization and compact effect offers a way to develop THz 3D materials and devices suitable for multifrequencies.     

Tunable dual-wavelength terahertz wave power splitter

We demonstrate, for the first time, a tunable dual-wavelength terahertz wave power splitter based on the multimode interference effect and self-imaging principle in 1 × 2 × 2 photonic crystal waveguides. Both plane wave expansion method and finite-difference time-domain method are used to calculate and analyze the characteristics of the proposed device. The simulation results demonstrate that the power splitter not only split the input power into output1 and output2 branches with equal power at frequency of 1.09 THz, but also split the power into output3 and output4 branches symmetrically at frequency of 1.20 THz. Furthermore, for the frequency of 1.09 THz, the input terahertz wave power can be split into output1 and output2 branches with an arbitrary ratio by tuning the refractive index of the tuning rods.     

Surface-emitted THz generation using a compact ultrashort pulse fiber amplifier at 1060 nm

Generation of InAs-surface-emitted terahertz radiation by application of an ultrashort pulse 1060 nm parabolic fiber amplifier source is reported for the first time. The fiber amplifier delivers 100 fs pulses at a repetition rate of 75 MHz and an average power of maximum 12 W. This new excitation laser for surface-emitters generates high brightness broadband THz radiation ranging from 100 GHz to over 2.5 THz. THz detection is demonstrated based on two-photon absorption at low-temperature-grown GaAs dipole receivers.     

High power room-temperature design of terahertz quantum cascade laser based on difference frequency generation

Terahertz (THz) quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) are key elements for high-power terahertz beam generation for integrated applications. In this study, we design a highly nonlinear THz-QCL active region in order to increase the output power of the device especially at lower THz frequencies based on difference frequency generation (DFG) process. It has been shown that the output power increases for a 3.2 THz structure up to 1.2 μW at room temperature in comparison with the reported power of P = 0.3 μW in [1]. The mid-IR wavelengths associated with this laser are λ₁ = 12.12 μm and λ₂ = 13.93 μm, which are mixed in a medium with high second-order nonlinearity. A similar approach has been used to design an active region with THz frequency of 1.8 THz. The output power of this structure reaches to 1 μW at room temperature where the mid-IR wavelengths are λ₁ = 12.05 μm, λ₂ = 12.99 μm.     

Novel optical controllable terahertz wave switch

We study theoretically and demonstrate experimentally light controllable terahertz wave switch. When the modulated optical excitation source is used to irradiate a high resistivity silicon wafer, a novel controllable terahertz wave switch is achieved. The results show that the ON-OFF response time is less than 150 ms and the attenuation of the novel terahertz wave switch is more than 20 dB at frequency of 0.315 THz.     

Broadband terahertz imaging of documents written with lead pencils

Far infrared transmission spectra of several graphite pencil leads on paper have been measured up to 2 THz using time-domain spectroscopy. The observation of the gradual absorption depending on the graphite proportion has been assessed for different pencils from hard to soft black-marking graphite leads. The resulting graphite transmittance is used to perform two-dimensional transmission terahertz imaging of written documents.