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THz Wave Modulators: A Brief Review on Different Modulation Techniques

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Abstract

We review different techniques for modulation of the electromagnetic properties of terahertz (THz) waves. We discuss various approaches for electronic, optical, thermal and nonlinear modulation in distinct material systems such as semiconductors, graphene, photonic crystals and metamaterials. The modulators are classified and compared with respect to modulation speed, modulation depth and categorized by the physical quantity they control as e.g. amplitude, phase, spectrum, spatial and temporal properties of the THz wave. Based on the review paper, the reader should obtain guidelines for the proper choice of a specific modulation technique in view of the targeted application.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Research Center OPTIMAS, University of Kaiserslautern, Erwin-Schroedinger-Strasse, 67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany

    Marco Rahm

  2. Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM, Heidenhofstrasse 8, 79110, Freiburg, Germany

    Marco Rahm

  3. Centre for THz Research, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China

    Jiu-Sheng Li

  4. Department of Physics, Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Ave, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA

    Willie J. Padilla

Authors
  1. Marco Rahm
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  2. Jiu-Sheng Li
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  3. Willie J. Padilla
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Correspondence to Marco Rahm.

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Rahm, M., Li, JS. & Padilla, W.J. THz Wave Modulators: A Brief Review on Different Modulation Techniques. J Infrared Milli Terahz Waves 34, 1–27 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10762-012-9946-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10762-012-9946-2

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