A spatial light modulator for terahertz beams.

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 2009 · Proposed for publication in Nature Photonics.

OSTI ID:950927

Cich, Michael Joseph; Brener, Igal; Mittleman, Daniel M ^[1]; Chen, Hou-Tong ^[2]; Chan, Wai Lam ^[1]; Taylor, Antoinette J ^[2]

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1. Rice University, Houston, TX
2. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM

We design and implement a multipixel spatial modulator for terahertz beams using active terahertz metamaterials. Our first-generation device consists of a 4 x 4 pixel array, where each pixel is an array of subwavelength-sized split-ring resonator elements fabricated on a semiconductor substrate, and is independently controlled by applying an external voltage. Through terahertz transmission experiments, we show that the spatial modulator has a uniform modulation depth of around 40% across all pixels, and negligible crosstalk, at the resonant frequency. This device can operate under small voltage levels, at room temperature, with low power consumption and reasonably high switching speed.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 950927
• Report Number(s): SAND2009-1389J
• Journal Information: Proposed for publication in Nature Photonics., Journal Name: Proposed for publication in Nature Photonics. Journal Issue: 21 Vol. 94; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
BEAMS
DESIGN
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
FABRICATION
MODULATION
RESONATORS
THZ RANGE