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Tailoring electromagnetic responses in terahertz superconducting metamaterials

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Abstract

Superconducting terahertz metamaterials have attracted significant interest due to low loss, efficient resonance switching and large-range frequency tunability. The super conductivity in the metamaterials dramatically reduces ohmic loss and absorption to levels suitable for novel devices over a broad range of electromagnetic spectrum. Most metamaterials utilize subwavelength-scale split-ring resonators as unit building blocks, which are proved to support fundamental inductive-capacitive resonance, to achieve unique resonance performance. We presented a review of terahertz superconducting metamaterials and their implementation in multifunctional devices. We began with the recent development of superconducting metamaterials and their potential applications in controlling and manipulating terahertz waves. Then we explored the tuning behaviors of resonance properties in several typical, actively controllable metamaterials through integrating active components. Finally, the ultrafast dynamic nonlinear response to high intensity terahertz field in the superconducting metamaterials was presented.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Terahertz Waves and College of Precision Instrument and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, and the Key Laboratory of Optoelectronics Information and Technology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin, 300072, China

    Xiaoling Zhang, Jianqiang Gu, Jiaguang Han & Weili Zhang

Authors
  1. Xiaoling Zhang
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  2. Jianqiang Gu
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  3. Jiaguang Han
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  4. Weili Zhang
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Jianqiang Gu or Jiaguang Han.

Additional information

Xiaoling Zhang received the B. E. degree in control technology and instruments from Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun, China, in 2012. She is currently a graduate student at the Center for Terahertz Waves, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China, under the supervision of Profs. J. Q. Gu, J. G. Han and W. L. Zhang. Her research focuses on the generation and detection of terahertz wave radiation.

Jianqiang Gu received the B.S. degree in electronic science and technology, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in opto-electronics technology from Tianjin University, Tianjin, China, in 2004, 2007, and 2010, respectively. From 2008 to 2010, he was a visiting Ph.D. candidate in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, USA. Currently, he is on the faculty of the College of Precision Instruments and Optoelectronics Engineering, and a member of the Center for Terahertz Waves, Tianjin University, China. His current research interests include metamaterials, surface plasmon polaritons, and material studies in the terahertz regime.

Jiaguang Han received the B.S. degree in material physics from Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China, in 2000, and the Ph.D. degree in applied physics from the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China, in 2006. He was a visiting researcher at the Japanese High Energy Accelerator Research Organization during 2004–2005. From 2006 to 2007, he was a Post-doctoral Researcher in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA. In 2007, he joined the Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, Singapore, where he was a Lee Kuan Yew Research Fellow. Currently, he is Professor in the College of Precision Instruments and Optoelectronics Engineering, and a member of the Center for Terahertz Waves, Tianjin University, China. His current research interests include surface plasmon polaritons, metamaterials, and material studies in the terahertz regime. Dr. Han is a recipient of the Einstein Award from the Embassies of Germany and Switzerland in 2006, and was invited to visit the German and Swiss universities and research institutes.

Weili Zhang received the B.S. degree in laser science, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in optical engineering from Tianjin University, Tianjin, China, in 1987, 1990, and 1993, respectively. From 1993 to 1995, he was a Post-Doctoral Research Associate in the Department of Physics, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong. In 1995, he joined the faculty in the Department of Optoelectronics Technology, Tianjin University. Since 2000, he was Visiting Associate Professor, Associate Professor, and currently Professor at the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA. He is also Adjunct Changjiang Professor in the College of Precision Instruments and Optoelectronics Engineering and Director of the Center for Terahertz Waves, Tianjin University, China. His research interests include terahertz optoelectronics, nanostructured and microstructured materials optics, and ultrafast lasers and phenomena. Dr. Zhang is Associate Editor of the Journal of Optoelectronics and Lasers, Guest Editor for a number of peer-reviewed journals, including IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, and Chinese Optics Letters, and member of the editorial board of Journal of Photonics, Optoelectronics Letters, and Chinese Optics Letters. He was the general Co-Chair for the 4th International Symposium on Ultrafast Phenomena and Terahertz Waves, Tianjin, China, in 2008. He was the Session Chair and Program Committee Member for many international conferences, including CLEO, PIERS, Optics East, SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, and OSA topical meetings. Dr. Zhang received the first Young Faculty Award from the Ministry of Education of China in 2000, the Changjiang Scholar Award in 2010, and the Overseas Scientist Research Award (former NSFC-B) in 2010.

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Zhang, X., Gu, J., Han, J. et al. Tailoring electromagnetic responses in terahertz superconducting metamaterials. Front. Optoelectron. 8, 44–56 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12200-014-0439-x

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