BICs-enhanced active terahertz wavefront modulator enabled by laser-cut graphene ribbons

Abstract

Graphene-based terahertz (THz) metasurfaces combined with metallic antennas have the advantages of ultra-small thickness, electrical tunability, and fast tuning speed. However, their tuning ability is limited by non-independently tunable pixels and low modulation depth due to the ultra-small thickness of graphene. Here, we demonstrate a reconfigurable THz phase modulator with 5×5 independently tunable units enabled by switching the voltages applied on 10 graphene ribbons prepared by laser cutting. In addition, by introducing quasi-bound states in the continuum resonance through a designed double C-shaped antenna, the efficiency of the device is enhanced by 2.7–3.6 times under different graphene chemical potentials. Experimental results demonstrate that a focus can be formed, and the focal length is changed from 14.3 mm to 22.6 mm. This work provides potential for compact THz spatial light modulators that may be applied in THz communication, detection, and imaging.