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Broadband terahertz polarization converter/absorber based on the phase transition properties of vanadium dioxide in a reconfigurable metamaterial

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Abstract

Based on the phase transition properties of vanadium dioxide (VO2), a metamaterial structure that can be switched between broadband linear polarization converter and broadband absorber is designed in this work. The device consists of a top metal pattern layer, a dielectric layer, and a metal reflection layer. When VO2 is in the insulated state, the metamaterial structure can be used as a linear polarization converter, and the simulation results show that its linear polarization conversion rate exceeds 90% in the frequency range of 2.71–5.18 THz. Meanwhile, it should be noted that the linear polarization conversion rate is almost 100% in 2.85–4.99 THz. Alternatively, when VO2 is in the metallic state, the designed structure can be used as a broadband absorber, and the corresponding results reveal that the broadband absorption is achieved in the frequency range of 2.63–5.27 THz. In addition, the physical principle of the metamaterial is explained using the surface current distribution and impedance matching theory, and the effects of different incident angles and different polarization angles on the metamaterial properties are discussed. The proposed structure offers simple fabrication, wide frequency band operation and multifunctional applications, and can be used in the fields of detection, communication and electromagnetic stealth.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under grant No. 51874301, National Key Research & Development Program of China under grant No. 2021YFC2902702 and Primary Research & Development Plan of Xuzhou City under grant No. KC20162.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Engineering Research Center of Intelligent Control for Underground Space, Ministry of Education, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China

    Peng Gao, Cong Chen, Yaowei Dai, Hao Luo, Yue Feng, Yujia Qiao, Ziyan Ren & Hai Liu

  2. The School of Information and Control Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, China

    Peng Gao, Cong Chen, Yaowei Dai, Hao Luo, Yue Feng, Yujia Qiao, Ziyan Ren & Hai Liu

Authors
  1. Peng Gao
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  2. Cong Chen
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  3. Yaowei Dai
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  4. Hao Luo
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  5. Yue Feng
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  6. Yujia Qiao
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  7. Ziyan Ren
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  8. Hai Liu
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Contributions

Peng Gao conducted the experimental conception, proposed the design method, performed the simulation calculation and data processing, and completed the paper. Hai Liu provided financial support as well as equipment support, conducted the project management, fundraising, and review of the paper. Cong Chen, Yaowei Dai, Hao Luo, Yue Feng, Yujia Qiao, and Ziyan Ren provided software assistance.

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Correspondence to Hai Liu.

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Gao, P., Chen, C., Dai, Y. et al. Broadband terahertz polarization converter/absorber based on the phase transition properties of vanadium dioxide in a reconfigurable metamaterial. Opt Quant Electron 55, 380 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-023-04685-0

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