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Design, Fabrication, and Experimental Characterization of Plasmonic Photoconductive Terahertz Emitters
Published on: July 8, 2013
Surface plasmons in terahertz metamaterials.
G Acuna1, S F Heucke, F Kuchler
1Photonics and Optoelectronics Group & Center for NanoScience, University of Munich, Munich, Germany. guillermo.acuna@physik.uni-muenchen.de
Optics Express
|July 8, 2009
Summary
We used apertureless near-field microscopy to study terahertz metamaterials. High-frequency resonances were found to be governed by surface Plasmon excitations, challenging common interpretations.
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Materials science
- Nanophotonics
Background:
- Terahertz metamaterials exhibit unique electromagnetic properties.
- Understanding their spectral response is crucial for device applications.
- Conventional interpretations may not fully capture high-frequency behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively characterize terahertz metamaterials.
- To investigate the nature of their high-frequency resonance.
- To challenge and refine existing interpretations of metamaterial behavior.
Main Methods:
- Apertureless near-field microscopy was employed.
- Broadband spectral characterization was performed across the entire response range.
- Experimental observations were compared with theoretical models.
Main Results:
- The fundamental mode of the metamaterial was consistent with expectations.
- High-frequency resonance exhibited unexpected properties.
- Surface Plasmon excitations were identified as the governing mechanism for high-frequency response.
- Surface Plasmon excitations demonstrated comparable oscillator strength to the fundamental mode.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a refined understanding of terahertz metamaterial dynamics.
- Surface Plasmon excitations play a significant role in high-frequency responses.
- This finding has implications for the design and application of terahertz metamaterials.
