Abstract-State conversion based on terahertz plasmonics with vanadium dioxide coating controlled by optical pumping

Fei Fan, Wen-Hao Gu, Sai Chen, Xiang-Hui Wang, and Sheng-Jiang Chang »View Author Affiliations

http://www.opticsinfobase.org/ol/abstract.cfm?uri=ol-38-9-1582

The state conversion and terahertz (THz) wave modulation based on a plasmonic device composed of silicon column arrays with vanadium dioxide (VO 2 ) coating were experimentally demonstrated. For double 45° tilted optical pumping, a state conversion from dielectric photonic crystal (PC) to metallic PC was demonstrated due to the insulator–metal transition (IMT) of VO 2 with the pump power increasing. In this process, a broadband intensity modulation with 70% modulation depth was achieved. Furthermore, for normally incident optical pumping, another state conversion from dielectric PC to plasmonic device was also demonstrated due to the partial IMT of VO 2 , and the out of plane PC resonance gradually changed to be plasmonic resonances. This device and its modulation scheme will be of great significance for potential THz applications.

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