Abstract:
The electromagnetic response of natural materials forms the basis for the construction of most modern optical / electronic devices. However, this material response is not evenly distributed across the electromagnetic spectrum. In-between microwave and infrared frequencies there exists a region comparatively devoid of material response, commonly referred to as the ¡°terahertz gap¡± (0.1 - 10THz, lambda = 3mm - 30um). There have been enormous efforts focused on the search for ¡°terahertz¡± materials or alternative novel techniques to enable the construction of device components however, much work remains. Although there is a wide range of natural phenomena that could be probed with terahertz (THz) devices, currently efficient THz sources, detectors, switches, and modulators are not widely available.
Electromagnetic metamaterials are promising candidates to fill in this ¡°Terahertz Gap¡±. Metamaterials have the ability to yield nearly any desired electromagnetic response, operate at room temperature, are lightweight, and operate at any sub-optical frequency band. Thus although the universe has not provided an abundance of THz materials, metamaterials may provide the necessary ingredients needed to construct novel devices operating in this range. I will overview the significant progress that metamaterials have made over the last several years, including setting several records of performance at THz frequencies.
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