Terahertz near-field imaging of dielectric resonators.

Abstract

As an alternative to metallic resonators, dielectric resonators can increase radiation efficiencies of metasurfaces at terahertz frequencies. Such subwavelength resonators made from low-loss dielectric materials operate on the basis of oscillating displacement currents. For full control of electromagnetic waves, it is essential that dielectric resonators operate around their resonant modes. Thus, understanding the nature of these resonances is crucial towards design implementation. To this end, an array of silicon resonators on a quartz substrate is designed to operate in transmission at terahertz frequencies. The resonator dimensions are tailored to observe their low-order modes of resonance at 0.58 THz and 0.61 THz respectively. We employ a terahertz near-field imaging technique to measure the complex near-fields of this dielectric resonator array. This unique method allows direct experimental observation of the first two fundamental resonances.