Open AccessThermally induced tunability of a terahertz metamaterial by using a specially designed nematic liquid crystal mixture
Author(s) -
Rafał Kowerdziej,
Marek Olifierczuk,
Janusz Parka
Publication year - 2018
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.26.002443
Subject(s) - liquid crystal , metamaterial , materials science , terahertz radiation , birefringence , optics , optoelectronics , thermotropic crystal , isotropy , phase (matter) , physics , liquid crystalline , quantum mechanics
The search for new low loss nematic liquid crystal mixtures with enhanced birefringence and low temperature of nematic-to-isotropic phase transition plays a pivotal role in a development of new applications in the emerging field of thermally tunable metamaterials. Here we maximize thermally induced tunability of a terahertz metamaterial by using a specially designed nematic liquid crystal mixture. It is shown that the resonant response of a metamaterial device can be effectively tuned both in terms of its magnitude and wavelength with the spectral tunability approaching the theoretical limit of 8 GHz. Electromagnetic simulations confirm our tests and match the experimental observations well. The suggested approach opens new routes for next-generation soft-matter-based filtering and sensing components and devices.