Coupled metamaterial optical resonators for infrared emissivity spectrum modulation

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Materials Science
• Metamaterials

Background:

• Metamaterials offer unique light-matter interactions.
• Controlling light absorption and emission is crucial for optical devices.
• Coupled resonator systems provide tunable optical responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the absorptivity of coupled metamaterial resonators in the mid-infrared.
• To explore the spectral modulation capabilities of dark and bright resonator modes.
• To demonstrate tunable spectral splitting and broadband emissivity control.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical modeling using coupled mode theory.
• Analysis of dark-bright and dark-dark coupled resonator systems.
• Investigating the effect of resonator separation on coupling and optical properties.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated tunable spectral splitting in dark-bright coupled systems by varying resonator separation.
• Established a mapping between resonator separation and coupling constant via coupled mode theory.
• Observed an emissive bright mode in dark-dark coupled systems dependent on inter-resonator coupling.
• Showcased broadband emissivity in dark-dark systems that decays exponentially with resonator separation.

Conclusions:

• Coupled metamaterial resonators offer versatile control over mid-infrared absorptivity and emissivity.
• The dark-bright system enables tunable spectral splitting for advanced optical modulation.
• The dark-dark system provides a pathway for designing broadband thermal emitters with controlled emissivity.