Electrically Tunable Terahertz Focusing Modulator Enabled by Liquid Crystal Integrated Dielectric Metasurface

Active lenses with focal tunable properties are highly desired in the modern imaging systems from the visible to the microwaves. In this paper, we demonstrate a terahertz (THz) lens with electrically switchable focal length. It is composed of a large-birefringence liquid crystal (LC) layer infiltrat...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yanchun Shen, Zhixiong Shen, Yuye Wang, Degang Xu, Wei Hu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
Series:Crystals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/11/5/514
Description
Summary:Active lenses with focal tunable properties are highly desired in the modern imaging systems from the visible to the microwaves. In this paper, we demonstrate a terahertz (THz) lens with electrically switchable focal length. It is composed of a large-birefringence liquid crystal (LC) layer infiltrating a dielectric metasurface. When the birefringence of LC is tuned with an external bias, the phase shift of a single meta-unit will change. With parameter sweep using the finite-different time-domain (FDTD) simulation method, meta-units with varying geometries are optimized to achieve a focal length switchable metalens. The numerical results show that the focal length can be switched between 8.3 mm and 10.5 mm at bias OFF and ON states, respectively, which is consistent with the design. A feasible fabrication procedure of the lens is further discussed. Such a device can be designed beyond the THz band to the visible or the microwaves, and may be widely applied in integrated imaging systems.
ISSN:2073-4352