The rotation of polarization of a terahertz wave through subwavelength metallic structures

• Published in: Science China. Physics, mechanics & astronomy Vol. 56; no. 3; pp. 514 - 518
• Main Authors: Liu, JianFeng, Zhou, QingLi, Shi, YuLei, Zhang, CunLin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg SP Science China Press 01.03.2013; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Astronomy; Classical and Continuum Physics; Electric fields; Observations and Techniques; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Polarization; Substrates; Terahertz frequencies; Theoretical analysis; terahertz; metamaterial; polarization
• ISSN: 1674-7348; 1869-1927
• DOI: 10.1007/s11433-012-4934-z

Structures consisting of a planar array of subwavelength metallic bars fabricated on a dielectric substrate are theoretically investigated in order to rotate the polarization of a normally incident terahertz wave in the resonance frequency band. We attribute this phenomenon to one component of the terahertz electric field parallel to inclined metallic bars which is reflected strongly due to the terahertz re-radiation from accelerated electrons in the metallic bars, while the other component perpendicular to the bars transmits almost entirely through the structures. By theoretical analysis, we obtain the transmitted-terahertz components polarized in the x - and y -directions, respectively. Further studies indicate polarization of a terahertz wave can be rotated within two specific frequency bands when the terahertz impinges on the double-bar sample.