High efficiency of broadband transmissive metasurface terahertz polarization converter

Abstract

Terahertz wave is between microwave and infrared bands in the electromagnetic spectrum with the frequency range from 0.1 THz to 10 THz. Controlling and processing of the polarization state in terahertz wave are the focus due to its great influence on the characteristics. In this paper, a transmissive metasurface terahertz polarization converter is designed in 3D structure with an upper surface of ruler-like rectangular, an intermediate dielectric layer and a lower surface of metal grid wires. Numerical simulations of the converter show that the polarization conversion ratio (PCR) is above 99.9% at 0.288 THz–1.6 THz, the polarization rotation angle (PRA) is close to 90° at 0.06 THz–1.4 THz, and the ellipticity angle (EA) is close to 0° at 0.531 THz–1.49 THz. The origin of the efficient polarization conversion is explained by analyzing the electric field intensity, magnetic field intensity, surface current, electric field energy density, and magnetic field energy density distributions of the converter at 1.19 THz and 0.87 THz, which are consistent with the energy transmittance and transmittance coefficient. In addition, the effects of different thickness and material of intermediate layer, thickness of upper surface material, polarized wave incidence angle, and metasurface materials on the performance of the polarization converter are discussed, and how they affect the conversion performance of the polarization converter are also explained. Our results provide a strong theoretical basis and technical support to develop high performance transmission-type terahertz polarization converters, and play an important role to promote the development of terahertz science and technology.