Resonant terahertz absorption using metamaterial structures

Abstract

The Sensor Research Lab at the Naval Postgraduate School is developing a real-time THz imaging camera. Vital to its design is the metamaterial absorbing layer (metafilm) within each pixel that allows for THz absorption. While there are numerous applications in the THz region, sensors and sources for THz energy have much room for improvement. The use of metamaterial technology for the purpose of a THz sensor has the potential to reduce costs while greatly improving sensitivity performance. The Sensor Research Lab has fabricated metafilms capable of near 100 percent absorption. In this research project, absorption characteristics of a set of metamaterials were measured using Fourier transform THz spectroscopy and modeled using an RLC circuit. The model provides a good description of the absorption characteristics and should assist in better understanding of the electromagnetic interactions within the metafilm.