On-Demand Dynamic Terahertz Polarization Manipulation Based on Pneumatically Actuated Metamaterial

Abstract

In this paper, a new tuning strategy is proposed by incorporating a pneumatically actuated metamaterial to achieve on-demand polarization manipulation at THz frequencies. Through controlling the actuation pressure, the device function can be flexibly switched among three types of polarization conversion capabilities within the same operation frequency band, from 1.3 THz to 1.5 THz, in which the mutual conversion between linear polarization and circular polarization, such as a quarter-wave plate, and handedness inversion between circular polarizations as a helicity inverter as well as a helicity keeper, have been successfully achieved between the incidence and reflection. Moreover, the intrinsic tuning mechanism for the polarization manipulation is also discussed.