Open AccessDesign of reconfigurable metallic slits for terahertz beam modulation
Author(s) -
Christopher Berry,
Jeremy Moore,
Mona Jarrahi
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.19.001236
Subject(s) - terahertz radiation , optics , modulation (music) , electromagnetic radiation , materials science , extraordinary optical transmission , dielectric , transmission (telecommunications) , optoelectronics , beam (structure) , refractive index , terahertz spectroscopy and technology , waveguide , surface plasmon polariton , surface plasmon , physics , plasmon , telecommunications , acoustics , computer science
We analyze the interaction of electromagnetic waves with double-layered subwavelength metallic slits on a dielectric substrate. This structure allows efficient transmission of an incident TM-polarized electromagnetic wave into the dielectric substrate, due to the presence of surface modes which couple the incident wave to the TEM waveguide modes supported by the subwavelength metallic slits. Our study shows that electromagnetic transmission through double-layered subwavelength metallic slits is strongly geometry dependent. Based on this observation, a terahertz modulation scheme is presented which, compared to existing terahertz modulator solutions, has the promise of significant enhancement in modulation index over a broad range of terahertz frequencies.