Continuously tunable terahertz metamaterial employing magnetically actuated cantilevers

Opt Express. 2011 Mar 28;19(7):5741-52. doi: 10.1364/OE.19.005741.

Abstract

Terahertz metamaterial structures that employ flexing microelectromechanical cantilevers for tuning the resonance frequency of an electric split-ring resonator are presented. The tuning cantilevers are coated with a magnetic thin-film and are actuated by an external magnetic field. The use of cantilevers enables continuous tuning of the resonance frequency over a large frequency range. The use of an externally applied magnetic field for actuation simplifies the metamaterial structure and its use for sensor or filter applications. A structure for minimizing the actuating field is derived. The dependence of the tunable bandwidth on frequency is discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Magnetics / instrumentation*
  • Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems / instrumentation*
  • Terahertz Radiation
  • Transducers*