Objective: To develop and characterize new plasmonic metamaterials in the terahertz (THz) spectral range.
Approach: Explore unconventional materials that are typically not suitable for plasmonics applications at optical frequencies but exhibit reasonable conductivities at THz frequencies.
Results and Significance: Liquid metals and well-developed microfluidic technology can be used successfully to create useful devices in a frequency range commonly referred to as the “gap in the electromagnetic spectrum.”
Top: Photograph of periodic array of subwavelength holes formed using an elastomer and filled with a liquid metal (eutectic gallium indium). Bottom: Transmission properties of a 15×15 liquid metal array as a function of stretching the device along only one axis.
