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Sensing technologies based on terahertz waves have immense potential due to their non-destructive, transparent, and fingerprint spectral response of several materials that are opaque to other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. Terahertz metasensors reported so far merely exploit the fringing electric field on the top of the subwavelength resonators. Here, we experimentally demonstrate an ultrathin flexible terahertz metamaterial sensor on a low refractive index substrate which enables sensing of analytes from the top and bottom surfaces of the metamaterial, opening up avenues for dual-surface sensing of analytes with fringing resonant fields on both front and rear sides of a metasurface. Since most of the real-world objects have 3D curvatures, the reported flexible metasensor with large mechanical strength and stability in free space would be an ideal platform for ultrasensitive sensing of dielectrics, chemicals, and biomolecules of extremely low concentrations with dual non-planar surfaces. MOE (Min. of Education, S’pore) Published version

The toroidal dipole moment, a localized electromagnetic excitation of torus magnetic fields, has been observed experimentally in metamaterials. However, the metamaterial based toroidal moment was restricted at higher frequencies by the complex three-dimensional structure. Recently, it has been shown that toroidal moment could also be excited in a planar metamaterial structure. Here, we use asymmetric Fano resonators to illustrate theoretically and experimentally the underlying physics of the toroidal coupling in an array of planar metamaterials. It is observed that the anti-parallel magnetic moment configuration shows toroidal excitation with higher quality (Q) factor Fano resonance, while the parallel magnetic moment shows relatively lower Q factor resonance. Moreover, the electric and toroidal dipole interferes destructively to give rise to an anapole excitation. The magnetic dipole-dipole interaction is employed to understand the differences between the toroidal and magnetic Fano resonances. We further study the impact of intra unit-cell coupling between the Fano resonator pairs in the mirrored and non-mirrored arrangements. The numerical and theoretical approach for modelling the near-field effects and experimental demonstration of toroidal and magnetic Fano resonances in planar systems are particularly promising for tailoring the loss in metamaterials across a broad range of the electromagnetic spectrum. MOE (Min. of Education, S’pore) Published version

The multipoles play a significant role in determining the resonant behavior of subwavelength resonators that form the basis of metamaterial and plasmonic systems. Here, we study the impact of multipoles including toroidal dipole on the resonance intensity and linewidth of the fundamental inductive-capacitance (LC) resonance of a metamaterial array. The dominant multipoles that strongly contribute to the resonances are tailored by spatial rearrangement of the neighboring resonators such that the mutual interactions between the magnetic, electric, and toroidal configurations lead to enormous change in the linewidth as well as the resonance intensity of the LC mode. Manipulation of the multipoles in a metamaterial array provides a general strategy for the optimization of the quality factor of metamaterial resonances, which is fundamental to its applications in broad areas of sensing, lasing and nonlinear optics where stronger field confinement plays a significant role. MOE (Min. of Education, S’pore) Published version

By utilizing the vector nature of light as well as the inherent anisotropy of artificial meta-atoms, we investigate parity time symmetry breaking in polarization space using a metasurface with anisotropic absorption, whose building blocks consist of two orthogonally orientated meta-atoms with the same resonant frequency but different loss coefficients. By varying their coupling strength, we directly observe a phase transition in the eigenpolarization states of the system, across which the long axis of the eigenpolarization ellipses experience a sudden rotation of 45°. Despite the lack of rotational symmetry of the metasurface, precisely at the phase transition, known as the exceptional point, the eigenmodes coalesce into a single circularly polarized state. The PT symmetric metasurfaces are experimentally implemented at terahertz frequencies.

High quality factor resonances are extremely promising for designing ultra-sensitive refractive index label-free sensors since it allows intense interaction between electromagnetic waves and the analyte material. Metamaterial and plasmonic sensing has recently attracted a lot of attention due to subwavelength confinement of electromagnetic fields in the resonant structures. However, the excitation of high quality factor resonances in these systems has been a challenge. We excite an order of magnitude higher quality factor resonances in planar terahertz metamaterials that we exploit for ultrasensitive sensing. The low-loss quadrupole and Fano resonances with extremely narrow linewidths enable us to measure the minute spectral shift caused due to the smallest change in the refractive index of the surrounding media. We achieve sensitivity levels of 7.75 x 10^3 nm/ RIU with quadrupole and 5.7 x 10^4 nm/ RIU with the Fano resonances which could be further enhanced by using thinner substrates. These findings would facilitate the design of ultrasensitive real time chemical and biomolecular sensors in the fingerprint region of the terahertz regime., 10 pages, 6 figures

The coupling of multiple plasmonic resonators that sustain bright or dark modes provide intriguing spectral signatures. However, probing the onset of coupling effects while engaging the resonators with an increasing proximity has not yet been studied experimentally in detail. Nevertheless, this is of utmost importance to bridge the phenomenological understanding with the peculiarities of real-world-samples. Here, we take advantage of the ability to control spatial dimensions of THz metasurfaces deep in the sub-wavelength domain to study different regimes that occur while coupling split-ring-resonators that sustain a bright and a dark mode with increasing strength. We identify the length scales at which the resonators are uncoupled and then enter the regimes of weak, moderate, and strong coupling. It is shown that a strong coupling takes place only at distances smaller than one hundredth of the resonance wavelength. Understanding the features that emerge from such hybridization is important to take advantage of fundamental effects in metamaterials such as classical analogs of electromagnetically induced transparency, lasing spaser, near-field manipulation, and sensing with dark mode resonances. Published version

Fano resonances offer exciting features in enhancing the non-linearity and sensing capabilities in metamaterial systems. An active photoswitching of Fano resonances in a terahertz metadevice at low optical pump powers is demonstrated, which signifies the extreme sensitivity of the high-quality-factor resonant electric field to the external light illumination. MOE (Min. of Education, S’pore) Accepted version

We report the simulation, fabrication, and experimental characterization of a multichannel metamaterial absorber with the aim to be used as a label-free sensing platform in the terahertz regime. The topology of the investigated resonators deposited on a thin flexible polymer by means of optical lithography is capable of supporting multiple resonances over a broad frequency range due to the individual contribution of each sub-element of the unit cell. In order to explore the performance of the chosen structure in terms of sensing phenomenon, the reflection feature is monitored upon variation of the refractive index and the thickness of the analyte. We achieve numerically maximum frequency sensitivity of about 139.2 GHz/refractive index unit. Measurements carried out using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy show good agreement with the numerical predictions. The results are very promising, suggesting a potential use of the metamaterial absorber in wide variety of multispectral terahertz sensing applications. Published version

Near-field coupling between orthogonally twisted bright and dark mode resonances gives rise to sharp Fano-like resonances and electromagnetically induced transparency. We demonstrate that by varying the orientation of the near-field coupled bright and dark metamolecule with respect to the incident electric field, the shape and linewidth of the coupling induced transparency could be easily engineered. This particular aspect of the near-field coupled metamolecules could lead to engineered slow-light devices, narrow bandpass filters and ultrasensitive sensors.

As the potential applications of terahertz science and technology become extremely important, there is an increasing demand for improved terahertz optical components. One of such devices on demand is the class of polarization control devices. Recently, metasurfaces have emerged as designer structures with excellent control, design flexibility, and multifaceted functionalities. Metamaterials offer fascinating prospects for manipulating the polarization state of terahertz waves. Here, we discuss different metamaterial device designs that exhibit properties of perfect linear polarization rotation and linear to either linear or circular polarization conversion at narrowband as well as broadband terahertz frequencies.

Polarization conveys valuable information for electromagnetic signal processing exhibiting tremendous potential in developing application driven photonic devices. Manipulation of polarization state of an electromagnetic wave has drawn a lot of research interests in many different fields, especially in the terahertz regime. Here, we propose a unique approach to efficiently rotate the linear polarization of terahertz wave in a broadband configuration with tri-layer metasurfaces. We experimentally observe a nearly perfect orthogonal polarization conversion with an ultrahigh efficiency, demonstrating a ultrathin terahetz rotator. The Fabry-Perot cavity effect in the tri-layer metasurfaces is attributed to the underlying mechanism of high transmittance and polarization rotation.

Experimental tests are presented to investigate the stress effect on terahertz (THz) waves with a THz time-domain spectroscopy system. Through the Jones matrix method, an experimental principle is derived according to the experimental system. Experimental results indicate the linear relationship between a polytetrafluoroethylene refractive index and applied stress. The result can be applied to the active modulation of a refractive index or phase of a THz wave.

We present a double-ring-chain metamaterial that enables efficient polarization conversion of terahertz waves. The experimental results and numerical simulations reveal that the linear-to-linear polarization rotation and linear-to-elliptic polarization transformation are simply accomplished by altering the dimensional parameters of the metamaterial unit cells. The polarization state conversion is found to be critically related to the resonant properties of the long bars and the rings in the unit geometries and is well described by the Jones matrix. This approach promises both passive and active polarization conversion of terahertz radiation using planar metamaterials.

We investigate resonant transmission of planar asymmetric metamaterials made from double split-ring resonators. As the symmetry of the unit cell resonator is broken by displacing the two gaps away from the center in opposite directions, a giant amplitude modulation is observed at the fundamental inductive-capacitive resonance due to strong polarization conversion. The modulation is nearly absent when the gaps are moved together in the same direction. This effect persists in metamaterials with different structural designs. These asymmetric metamaterials may open up new avenues toward the control of terahertz waves and the development of modulator and polarizer based terahertz devices.

We investigate resonant transmission of planar asymmetric metamaterials made from double split-ring resonators. More than 50% amplitude modulation is observed at the fundamental inductive-capacitive resonance due to circular polarization conversion.