Reconfigurable terahertz metamaterials

We demonstrate reconfigurable anisotropic metamaterials at terahertz frequencies where artificial "atoms" reorient within unit cells in response to an external stimulus. This is accomplished by fabricating planar arrays of split ring resonators on bimaterial cantilevers designed to bend out of plane in response to a thermal stimulus. We observe a marked tunability of the electric and magnetic response as the split ring resonators reorient within their unit cells. Our results demonstrate that adaptive metamaterials offer significant potential to realize novel electromagnetic functionality ranging from thermal detection to reconfigurable cloaks or absorbers.