Electrically Reconfigurable Micromirror Array for Direct Spatial Light Modulation of Terahertz Waves over a Bandwidth Wider Than 1 THz

Scientific Reports
Jan KappaMarco Rahm

Abstract

We report the design, fabrication and experimental investigation of a spectrally wide-band terahertz spatial light modulator (THz-SLM) based on an array of 768 actuatable mirrors with each having a length of 220 μm and a width of 100 μm. A mirror length of several hundred micrometers is required to reduce diffraction from individual mirrors at terahertz frequencies and to increase the pixel-to-pixel modulation contrast of the THz-SLM. By means of spatially selective actuation, we used the mirror array as reconfigurable grating to spatially modulate terahertz waves in a frequency range from 0.97 THz to 2.28 THz. Over the entire frequency band, the modulation contrast was higher than 50% with a peak modulation contrast of 87% at 1.38 THz. For spatial light modulation, almost arbitrary spatial pixel sizes can be realized by grouping of mirrors that are collectively switched as a pixel. For fabrication of the actuatable mirrors, we exploited the intrinsic residual stress in chrome-copper-chrome multi-layers that forces the mirrors into an upstanding position at an inclination angle of 35°. By applying a bias voltage of 37 V, the mirrors were pulled down to the substrate. By hysteretic switching, we were able to spatially modulate t...Continue Reading

References

Apr 20, 2011·Optics Express·Franz SchusterWojciech Knap
May 5, 2012·Optics Letters·Yong MaDavid R S Cumming
Oct 6, 2012·Optics Express·Steffen SchumannMartin Koch
May 18, 2013·Physical Review Letters·David ShrekenhamerWillie J Padilla
Jun 6, 2013·Optics Express·David ShrekenhamerWillie J Padilla
Aug 2, 2013·Optics Letters·Xuefeng ZhuXiang Zhang
May 1, 2015·Optics Letters·Nurbek KakenovCoskun Kocabas
Jun 27, 2015·Scientific Reports·Prakash PitchappaChengkuo Lee
Jul 8, 2016·Science Advances·Rayko Ivanov StantchevEuan Hendry
Feb 16, 2017·Scientific Reports·Natsuki KandaMakoto Kuwata-Gonokami
Feb 7, 2018·Optics Express·Till MohrWolfgang Elsässer
Mar 22, 2018·Scientific Reports·Sven AugustinHeinz-Wilhelm Hübers
May 3, 2018·Optics Express·Daniel M Mittleman
Apr 16, 2019·Journal of Infrared, Millimeter and Terahertz Waves·Tanny ChavezMagda El-Shenawee
Aug 28, 2017·Microsystems & Nanoengineering·Mingkai LiuMariusz Martyniuk

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations


❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
imaging techniques

Software Mentioned

Computer Software Technology ( CST ) Studio

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.