Continuously tunable metasurfaces controlled by single electrode uniform bias-voltage based on nonuniform periodic rectangular graphene arrays.

Abstract

Metasurfaces, the two-dimensional artificial metamaterials, have attracted intensive attention due to their abnormal ability to manipulate the electromagnetic wave. Although there have been considerable efforts to design and fabricate beam steering devices, continuously tunable devices with a uniform bias-voltage have not been achieved. Finding new ways to realize more convenient and simpler wavefront modulation of light still requires research efforts. In this article, a series of novel reflective metasurfaces are proposed to continuously modulate the wavefront of terahertz light by uniformly adjusting the bias-voltage. By introducing the innovation of nonuniform periodic structures, we realize the gradient distribution of the reflected light phase-changing-rate which is the velocity of phase changing with Fermi energy. Based on strict phase distribution design scheme, a beam scanner and a variable-focus reflective metalens are both demonstrated successfully. Furthermore, dynamic and continuous control of either the beam azimuth of beam scanner or the focal length of metalens can be achieved by uniformly tuning the Fermi energy of graphene. Our work provides a potentially efficient method for the development and simplification of the adjustable wavefront controlling devices.