Photo-excited multi-frequency terahertz switch based on a composite metamaterial structure

Abstract

We propose a photo-excited tunable multi-frequency metamaterial (MM) switch that can be used in the terahertz region. This metamaterial switch is composed of a polyimide substrate and a hybrid metal–semiconductor square split-ring resonator (SRR) with two gaps, with various semiconductors placed in critical regions of the metallic resonator. By changing the incident pump power, we were able to tune the conductivity of the diverse semiconductors filling the gaps of the SRR, and by using an external exciting beam, we were able to modulate the resonant absorption properties of the composite metamaterial structure. We demonstrated the tunable multi-frequency metamaterial switch by irradiating the composite metamaterial structure with a pump laser. In addition, we proposed a tunable metamaterial switch based on a circular metallic split-ring resonator.