SpringerLink
Log in

Ultra-thin polarization independent broadband terahertz metamaterial absorber

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Frontiers of Optoelectronics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this work, we present the design of a polarization independent broadband absorber in the terahertz (THz) frequency range using a metasurface resonator. The absorber comprises of three layers, of which, the top layer is made of a vanadium dioxide (VO2) resonator with an electrical conductivity of σ = 200000 S/m; the bottom layer consists of a planar layer made of gold metal, and a dielectric layer is sandwiched between these two layers. The optimized absorber exhibits absorption greater than 90% from 2.54–5.54 THz. Thus, the corresponding bandwidth of the designed absorber is 3 THz. Further, the thermal tunable absorption and reflection spectra have been analyzed by varying the electrical conductivity of VO2. The impact of the various geometrical parameters on the absorption characteristics has also been assessed. The physics of generation of broadband absorption of the proposed device has been explored using field analysis. Finally, the absorption characteristics of the unit cell has been studied for various incident and polarization angles.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Sirtori C. Bridge for the terahertz gap. Nature, 2002, 417(6885): 132–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Tonouchi M. Cutting-edge terahertz technology. Nature Photonics, 2007, 1(2): 97–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Jepsen P U, Cooke D G, Koch M. Terahertz spectroscopy and imaging-modern techniques and applications. Laser & Photonics Reviews, 2011, 5(1): 124–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Federici J F, Schulkin B, Huang F, Gary D, Barat R, Oliveira F, Zimdars D. THz imaging and sensing for security applications—explosives, weapons and drugs. Semiconductor Science and Technology, 2005, 20(7): S266–S280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Salisbury W W. Absorbent body for electromagnetic waves. United States Patent US 2599944. 1952

  6. Knott E F, Schaeffer J F, Tulley M T. Radar Cross Section. Raleigh: SciTech Publishing, 2004

    Book  Google Scholar 

  7. Watts C M, Liu X, Padilla W J. Metamaterial electromagnetic wave absorbers. Advanced Materials, 2012, 24(23): OP98–OP120, OP181

    Google Scholar 

  8. Landy N I, Sajuyigbe S, Mock J J, Smith D R, Padilla W J. Perfect metamaterial absorber. Physical Review Letters, 2008, 100(20): 207402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Li H, Yuan L H, Zhou B, Shen X P, Cheng Q, Cui T J. Ultrathin multiband gigahertz metamaterial absorbers. Journal of Applied Physics, 2011, 110(1): 014909

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Sharma S K, Ghosh S, Srivastava K V. An ultra-thin triple-band polarization-insensitive metamaterial absorber for S, C and X band applications. Applied Physics A, Materials Science & Processing, 2016, 122(12): 1071

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Wen Y, Ma W, Bailey J, Matmon G, Yu X. Broadband terahertz metamaterial absorber based on asymmetric resonators with perfect absorption. IEEE Transactions on Terahertz Science and Technology, 2015, 5(3): 406–411

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Zhang B, Zhao Y, Hao Q, Kiraly B, Khoo I C, Chen S, Huang T J. Polarization-independent dual-band infrared perfect absorber based on a metal-dielectric-metal elliptical nanodisk array. Optics Express, 2011, 19(16): 15221–15228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Ghobadi A, Dereshgi S A, Hajian H, Bozok B, Butun B, Ozbay E. Ultra-broadband, wide angle absorber utilizing metal insulator multilayers stack with a multi-thickness metal surface texture. Scientific Reports, 2017, 7(1): 4755

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Tao H, Landy N I, Bingham C M, Zhang X, Averitt R D, Padilla W J. A metamaterial absorber for the terahertz regime: design, fabrication and characterization. Optics Express, 2008, 16(10): 7181–7188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Wang B X, **e Q, Dong G, Huang W Q. Broadband terahertz perfect light absorber based on the modes of fundamental response and surface lattice resonance. OSA Continuum, 2018, 1(1): 213–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Wen Q Y, Zhang H W, **e Y S, Yang Q H, Liu Y L. Dual band terahertz metamaterial absorber: design, fabrication, and characterization. Applied Physics Letters, 2009, 95(24): 241111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Chen C, Can S, Schalch J, Zhao X, Duan G, Averitt R D, Zhang X. Ultrathin terahertz triple-band metamaterial absorbers: consideration of interlayer coupling. Physical Review Applied, 2020, 14(5): 054021

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Wang B X, Tang C, Niu Q, He Y, Chen T. Design of narrow discrete distances of dual-/triple-band terahertz metamaterial absorbers. Nanoscale Research Letters, 2019, 14(1): 64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Liu S, Zhuge J, Ma S, Chen H, Bao D, He Q, Zhou L, Cui T J. A bilayered quad-band metamaterial absorber at terahertz frequencies. Journal of Applied Physics, 2015, 118(24): 245304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Wang B X, Wang G Z. Quad-band terahertz absorber based on a simple design of metamaterial resonator. IEEE Photonics Journal, 2016, 8(6): 1–8

    Google Scholar 

  21. Arabmohammadi M, Kashani Z G, Sheikhan R A. Numerical analysis and circuit model of tunable dual-band terahertz absorbers composed of concentric graphene disks and rings. Journal of Electronic Materials, 2020, 49(10): 5721–5729

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Su W, Chen X, Geng Z. Dynamically tunable dual-frequency terahertz absorber based on graphene rings. IEEE Photonics Journal, 2019, 11(6): 1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Nejat M, Nozhat N. Design, theory, and circuit model of wideband, tunable and polarization-insensitive terahertz absorber based on graphene. IEEE Transactions on Nanotechnology, 2019, 18: 684–690

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Huang X, He W, Yang F, Ran J, Yang Q, **e S. Thermally tunable metamaterial absorber based on strontium titanate in the terahertz regime. Optical Materials Express, 2019, 9(3): 1377–1385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Wang Z L, Hu C X, Liu H B, Zhang H F. A newfangled terahertz absorber tuned temper by temperature field doped by the liquid metal. Plasmonics, 2021, 16(2): 425–434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Zhang H F, Wang Z L, Hu C X, Liu H B. A tailored broadband terahertz metamaterial absorber based on the thermal expansion feature of liquid metal. Results in Physics, 2020, 16: 102937

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Luo H, Cheng Y. Thermally tunable terahertz metasurface absorber based on all dielectric indium antimonide resonator structure. Optical Materials, 2020, 102: 109801

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Kong X R, Dao R N, Zhang H F. A tunable double-decker ultra-broadband THz absorber based on a phase change material. Plasmonics, 2019, 14(5): 1233–1241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Zhang Y, Wu P, Zhou Z, Chen X, Yi Z, Zhu J, Zhang T, Jile H. Study on temperature adjustable terahertz metamaterial absorber based on vanadium dioxide. IEEE Access: Practical Innovations, Open Solutions, 2020, 8: 85154–85161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Zhang C, Huang C, Pu M, Song J, Luo X. Tunable absorbers based on an electrically controlled resistive layer. Plasmonics, 2019, 14(2): 327–333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Yuan S, Yang R, Tian J, Zhang W. A photoexcited switchable tristate terahertz metamaterial absorber. International Journal of RF and Microwave Computer-Aided Engineering, 2020, 30(1): e22014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Wang B X, Wang G Z, Zhu H. Quad-band terahertz absorption enabled using a rectangle-shaped resonator cut with an air gap. RSC Advances, 2017, 7(43): 26888–26893

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Cai H, Chen S, Zou C, Huang Q, Liu Y, Hu X, Fu Z, Zhao Y, He H, Lu Y. Multifunctional hybrid metasurfaces for dynamic tuning of terahertz waves. Advanced Optical Materials, 2018, 6(14): 1800257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Wang S, Kang L, Werner D H. Hybrid resonators and highly tunable terahertz metamaterials enabled by vanadium dioxide (VO2). Scientific Reports, 2017, 7(1): 4326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Zhou J, Zhang L, Tuttle G, Koschny T, Soukoulis C M. Negative index materials using simple short wire pairs. Physical Review B, 2006, 73(4): 041101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Ye Y Q, ** Y, He S. Omnidirectional, polarization-insensitive and broadband thin absorber in the terahertz regime. Journal of the Optical Society of America B, Optical Physics, 2010, 27(3): 498–504

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Ding F, Cui Y, Ge X, ** Y, He S. Ultra-broadband microwave metamaterial absorber. Applied Physics Letters, 2012, 100(10): 103506

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Smith D R, Vier D C, Koschny T, Soukoulis C M. Electromagnetic parameter retrieval from inhomogeneous metamaterials. Physical Review E, 2005, 71 (3 Pt 2B): 036617

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, School of Advanced Sciences, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, 632014, India

    C. Gandhi, P. Ramesh Babu & K. Senthilnathan

Authors
  1. C. Gandhi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. Ramesh Babu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. Senthilnathan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. Senthilnathan.

Additional information

C. Gandhi received his M.Sc. degree in Physics from Loyola College, India. He received his Ph.D. degree in Physics from Vellore Institute of Technology, India. His main research interests include terahertz absorber and polarization converter using metamaterials.

P. Ramesh Babu has worked in the Department of Physics at Vellore Institute of Technology, India, for the last thirty years, of which, he has been a professor since 2009. He received his Ph.D. degree from University of Madras, India, in 2006. His doctoral thesis focussed on the generation of Bragg solitons in a photonic bandgap structure. His research interests include nonlinear fiber optics, photonic crystal fibers, Bose-Einstein condensation, metamaterials and plasmonic sensors. He has published more than 50 papers in high-profile journals that include IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, IEEE Sensors, Optical Fiber Technology, Current Science, Journal of Modern Optics, Optical Engineering, etc. He is a life member of Indian Association of Physics Teachers, Indian Laser Association and Indian Society for Technical Education.

K. Senthilnathan is a professor at Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), India. He earned his M.Sc. and M.Phil. degrees in Physics from the University of Madras, India, and Ph.D. degree from Anna University, India. He carried out post-doctoral research at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China, from Dec. 2005 to Aug. 2008. Then, he served as Assistant Professor in NIT Rourkela from Sep. 2008 to Jun. 2010. Later, he joined VIT in Jul. 2010 as Assistant Professor. His areas of research include optical fibers, fiber Bragg gratings, photonic crystal fibers, pulse compression, Bose-Einstein condensation and metamaterials. Besides, he has also been focusing on develo** various types of fiber sensors including micro-structured fibers. These results have been disseminated in various prestigious international journals that include Journal of the Optical Society of America B, IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of Lightwave Technology, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE Sensors, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, etc. He has more than 100 Scopus indexed publications.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gandhi, C., Babu, P.R. & Senthilnathan, K. Ultra-thin polarization independent broadband terahertz metamaterial absorber. Front. Optoelectron. 14, 288–297 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12200-021-1223-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12200-021-1223-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation