Collaborative Research: Manipulating Terehertz wave using three-dimensional metamaterials

合作研究：使用三维超材料操纵太赫兹波PI：程孙、张伟力、约翰·F·奥哈拉，提案编号1232134ABSTRACT智能优点：太赫兹波仍然是电磁频谱中最不发达的领域之一，尽管在遥感、成像、光谱和通信方面有巨大的潜在应用前景。太赫兹波具有独特的分子特征，这是其他电磁频谱所不具备的。特别是，太赫兹波提供了在国土安全方面取得变革性进展的机会，例如在对峙探测和识别隐藏爆炸物目标方面的应用。然而，由于缺乏在太赫兹频率下具有有效响应的电磁材料，太赫兹波的控制已被证明非常具有挑战性。这个？太赫兹间隙？极大地阻碍了功能性太赫兹光学元件和系统的发展。鉴于这些挑战，本研究建议的目标是开发一种协同方法，包括变换光学(TO)理论、使用有效介质近似的超材料设计、可扩展的三维(3D)制造技术和一种实验验证方法，以探索一系列新颖的THz光学元件：1)使能的无像差THz成像透镜，以及2)集成的THz光谱平台。这里提出的合作研究无疑将为各种急需的具有前所未有的功能的太赫兹应用程序带来新的可能性。更广泛的影响：这项研究通过提供一种全新的解决方案来控制这些波的流动，从而解决了围绕具有重要光谱意义的太赫兹频率范围的重大挑战。这项研究的成果预计将是在多个学科之间建立桥梁，创建太赫兹超材料的新领域，同时在跨学科学习环境中培训下一代科学和工程领导人才。这项研究取得的创新代表着一项技术突破，它将带来新一代THz光学系统，其分辨率、效率和小型化都将大大提高，以满足商业和军事应用的需求。提出的THz3D超材料概念和综合研究协议可以进一步扩展到用于隐身技术、先进通信系统、医学成像和遥感的宽广电磁波频谱。

Collaborative Research: Manipulating terahertz waves using three-dimensional metamaterialsPI: Cheng Sun, Weili Zhang, John F. O'Hara, Proposal No. 1232134ABSTRACTIntellectual Merit: Terahertz (THz) waves remain one of the most underdeveloped regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, despite the great promise for potential applications in remote sensing, imaging, spectroscopy, and communications. THz waves carry unique molecular signatures that are not available in the rest of the electromagnetic spectrum. In particular, THz waves offer the opportunity for transformational advances in homeland security, such as applications in standoff detection and identification of concealed explosive targets. However, THz waves have proven very challenging to control due to a paucity of electromagnetic materials with an effective response at THz frequencies. This ?THz gap? results in a great impediment for the development of functional THz optical components and systems. In view of these challenges, the objective of this research proposal is to develop a synergetic approach that incorporates Transformation Optics (TO) theory, metamaterial design using the effective media approximation, scalable three-dimensional (3D) fabrication technologies, and a method of experimental validation to explore a range of novel THz optical components: 1) TO-enabled aberration free THz imaging lens, and 2) an integrated THz spectroscopy platform. The collaborative research proposed here will undoubtedly initiate new possibilities for a variety of much needed THz applications with unprecedented functionalities. Broader Impact: This research addresses the grand challenges surrounding the spectroscopically important THz frequency range by offering a fundamentally new solution to control the flow of these waves. The fruition of this research is expected to be the forging of bridges between the multiple disciplines for creating a new field of THz Metamaterials, while training the next generation of scientific and engineering leadership in an interdisciplinary learning environment. The innovations obtained from this research represent a technological breakthrough, which will usher in a new generation of THz optical systems with greatly improved resolution, efficiency, and miniaturization to meet the needs of commercial and military applications. The proposed THz 3D metamaterials concept and integrated research protocol can be further extended to the broad electromagnetic wave spectrum for stealth technology, advanced communication systems, medical imaging, and remote sensing.