Enantiomeric switching of chiral metamaterial for terahertz polarization modulation employing vertically deformable MEMS spirals

Tetsuo Kan, Akihiro Isozaki, Natsuki Kanda, Natsuki Nemoto, Kuniaki Konishi, Hidetoshi Takahashi, Makoto Kuwata-Gonokami (), Kiyoshi Matsumoto and Isao Shimoyama ()
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Tetsuo Kan: The University of Tokyo
Akihiro Isozaki: IRT Research Initiative, The University of Tokyo
Natsuki Kanda: Extreme Photonics Research Group, RIKEN Center for Advanced Photonics
Natsuki Nemoto: The University of Tokyo
Kuniaki Konishi: Institute for Photon Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo
Hidetoshi Takahashi: The University of Tokyo
Makoto Kuwata-Gonokami: The University of Tokyo
Kiyoshi Matsumoto: IRT Research Initiative, The University of Tokyo
Isao Shimoyama: The University of Tokyo

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Active modulation of the polarization states of terahertz light is indispensable for polarization-sensitive spectroscopy, having important applications such as non-contact Hall measurements, vibrational circular dichroism measurements and anisotropy imaging. In the terahertz region, the lack of a polarization modulator similar to a photoelastic modulator in the visible range hampers expansion of such spectroscopy. A terahertz chiral metamaterial has a huge optical activity unavailable in nature; nevertheless, its modulation is still challenging. Here we demonstrate a handedness-switchable chiral metamaterial for polarization modulation employing vertically deformable Micro Electro Mechanical Systems. Vertical deformation of a planar spiral by a pneumatic force creates a three-dimensional spiral. Enantiomeric switching is realized by selecting the deformation direction, where the polarity of the optical activity is altered while maintaining the spectral shape. A polarization rotation as high as 28° is experimentally observed, thus providing a practical and compact polarization modulator for the terahertz range.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9422

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