Abstract
Liquid crystals (LCs) can always reflect variable optical properties in a broad terahertz (THz) band under external electric or magnetic fields. Based on the measurements of these varying properties, we can realize electric and magnetic field sensing with very high sensitivity. Here, we theoretically and numerically demonstrate a type of electric field sensor in the THz frequency range based on the defect mode arising in a periodically corrugated waveguide with liquid crystals. The Bragg defect structure consisting of periodically corrugated metallic walls and a defect in the middle can provide a narrow transmitted peak with controllable bandwidth, which can be used for external field sensing when it is filled with LCs. The molecular orientation of nematic LCs (E7) is not only very sensitive to the applied DC electric field but also very crucial to the effective refractive index of E7. Changing the effective index can efficiently shift the frequency of the transmitted peak in the THz spectrum. The simulated results show that the sensitivity can reach as high as 9.164 MHz/(V/m) and the smallest resolution is 0.1115 V/m. The proposed sensor and its significant performance could benefit electric field sensing and extend the applications of THz technology.
Highlights
Terahertz (THz) waves belong to a frequency band of electromagnetic waves and generally refer to electromagnetic radiation in the frequency range of 0.1–10 THz [1,2,3,4,5]
There have been many reports in recent years on nematic liquid crystals (LCs) [26,27], which are very sensitive to aspects of the external environment such as lights [28], electric fields [29], magnetic fields [30], and temperature [31,32,33]
We propose a THz electric field sensor created by filling a hollow metal waveguide with nematic LCs
Summary
Terahertz (THz) waves belong to a frequency band of electromagnetic waves and generally refer to electromagnetic radiation in the frequency range of 0.1–10 THz [1,2,3,4,5]. Ding et al reported an LC optical sensor that was developed to detect vaporous butylamine in air [35] They realized chemical sensing based on the changes in LC molecular orientation caused by lauric aldehyde and butylamine. Crystals 2019, 9, 302 proposed metamaterials, gratings, photonic crystals, and other structures based on LCs to realize electric field sensing [37]. We propose a THz electric field sensor created by filling a hollow metal waveguide with nematic LCs. The waveguide consists of periodically corrugated walls and a defect in the middle, which leads to an arising Bragg defect mode in the transmitted spectrum.
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