Liquid Crystal-Tuned Planar Optics in Terahertz Range

Recently, terahertz waves of higher frequencies compared to microwave and radio frequency have shown great potential in radar detection and high-speed wireless communication. To spatially control the wavefront of terahertz beams, various novel components, such as terahertz filters, polarization conv...

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Main Authors: Hongguan Yu, Huacai Wang, Qiguang Wang, Shijun Ge, Wei Hu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-01-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1428
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author Hongguan Yu
Huacai Wang
Qiguang Wang
Shijun Ge
Wei Hu
author_facet Hongguan Yu
Huacai Wang
Qiguang Wang
Shijun Ge
Wei Hu
author_sort Hongguan Yu
collection DOAJ
description Recently, terahertz waves of higher frequencies compared to microwave and radio frequency have shown great potential in radar detection and high-speed wireless communication. To spatially control the wavefront of terahertz beams, various novel components, such as terahertz filters, polarization converters and lenses, have been investigated. Metamaterials and metasurfaces have become the most promising technique for the free manipulation of terahertz waves. Metadevices integrated with liquid crystals have been widely used in active terahertz devices. In this review, the birefringence of liquid crystals in the terahertz band and terahertz devices based on liquid crystals are summarized. By integrating liquid crystals with plasmonic metamaterials, the functions become dynamically adjustable and are reconstructed. Utilizing liquid crystals to change the resonance of metamaterials, tunable filters, absorbers, and programmable metasurfaces are realized. To solve the problem of low efficiency, terahertz wavefront shaping devices based on dielectric metasurfaces and liquid crystals, such as a variable deflection angle grating and zoom metalenses, are presented. Finally, we discuss and anticipate the future developments of liquid-crystal-integrated meta-devices, which will inspire broad applications in terahertz communication and imaging.
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spelling doaj.art-1ca5466642c64fd996db0647880295042023-11-16T16:05:21ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-01-01133142810.3390/app13031428Liquid Crystal-Tuned Planar Optics in Terahertz RangeHongguan Yu0Huacai Wang1Qiguang Wang2Shijun Ge3Wei Hu4Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and Manipulation, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaKey Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and Manipulation, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaKey Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and Manipulation, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaKey Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and Manipulation, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaKey Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and Manipulation, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, ChinaRecently, terahertz waves of higher frequencies compared to microwave and radio frequency have shown great potential in radar detection and high-speed wireless communication. To spatially control the wavefront of terahertz beams, various novel components, such as terahertz filters, polarization converters and lenses, have been investigated. Metamaterials and metasurfaces have become the most promising technique for the free manipulation of terahertz waves. Metadevices integrated with liquid crystals have been widely used in active terahertz devices. In this review, the birefringence of liquid crystals in the terahertz band and terahertz devices based on liquid crystals are summarized. By integrating liquid crystals with plasmonic metamaterials, the functions become dynamically adjustable and are reconstructed. Utilizing liquid crystals to change the resonance of metamaterials, tunable filters, absorbers, and programmable metasurfaces are realized. To solve the problem of low efficiency, terahertz wavefront shaping devices based on dielectric metasurfaces and liquid crystals, such as a variable deflection angle grating and zoom metalenses, are presented. Finally, we discuss and anticipate the future developments of liquid-crystal-integrated meta-devices, which will inspire broad applications in terahertz communication and imaging.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1428liquid crystalmetamaterialtunableterahertz
spellingShingle Hongguan Yu
Huacai Wang
Qiguang Wang
Shijun Ge
Wei Hu
Liquid Crystal-Tuned Planar Optics in Terahertz Range
Applied Sciences
liquid crystal
metamaterial
tunable
terahertz
title Liquid Crystal-Tuned Planar Optics in Terahertz Range
title_full Liquid Crystal-Tuned Planar Optics in Terahertz Range
title_fullStr Liquid Crystal-Tuned Planar Optics in Terahertz Range
title_full_unstemmed Liquid Crystal-Tuned Planar Optics in Terahertz Range
title_short Liquid Crystal-Tuned Planar Optics in Terahertz Range
title_sort liquid crystal tuned planar optics in terahertz range
topic liquid crystal
metamaterial
tunable
terahertz
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1428
work_keys_str_mv AT hongguanyu liquidcrystaltunedplanaropticsinterahertzrange
AT huacaiwang liquidcrystaltunedplanaropticsinterahertzrange
AT qiguangwang liquidcrystaltunedplanaropticsinterahertzrange
AT shijunge liquidcrystaltunedplanaropticsinterahertzrange
AT weihu liquidcrystaltunedplanaropticsinterahertzrange