Nonlinear binary indium-tin-oxide terahertz emitters with complete phase and amplitude control

Abstract

Terahertz (THz) waves have demonstrated immense potential for various applications in multiple fields. To enable the development of compact THz applications, it is crucial to integrate THz emission and wavefront manipulation into a single device. This study proposes and experiments with a nonlinear binary THz emitter that utilizes a patterned indium-tin-oxide (ITO) film. By precisely controlling the displacements and area sizes of the composed ITO patches, we are able to fully and independently manipulate the phase and amplitude of the locally emitted THz wave at the +1st-order diffraction, so as to the corresponding wavefront. Our innovative approach provides a promising path toward miniaturized and functioning THz devices and systems.