Coupled metamaterial resonators for real-time tunable electromagnetic materials

这项研究的目的是开发可调谐太赫兹超材料，以创造一种新型的紧凑型电磁设备，用于快速实时传感和检测。这将通过集成微电容致动器和宽边耦合的开环谐振器来实现，从而实现层间耦合和相关的电磁响应的机械调谐。本研究的智能优点在于它为实现主动和动态的超材料提供了一种新的途径。强耦合超材料谐振器为制造可调谐和自适应电磁复合材料提供了一条独特且尚未实现的途径。该项目的变革性方面是利用微电子机械系统技术实现耦合谐振器的横向位移。在强耦合极限下，分裂环谐振器之间的基本相互作用将作为横向和层间间距的函数进行研究。这将使精确的压控响应最优化，从而可以使用新的超材料设计和制造方法来实现从太赫兹到中红外波长的实时频率调谐。这类超材料的化学传感能力将被调查，因为理论上表明，机械调谐提供了更高的灵敏度和选择性。这项研究的更广泛影响包括跨学科教育和本科生和研究生的培训，在发生令人兴奋的科学和技术进步的研究学科边界促进发展。此外，该项目将成为招募女科学家和少数族裔科学家的极好工具，并将促进从生物学到物理、光子学和工程学的当代课程的发展。

The objective of this research is to develop tunable terahertz metamaterials to create a new class of compact electromagnetic devices for rapid real-time sensing and detection. This will be accomplished though integration of micro-capacitive actuators with broadside coupled split ring resonators enabling mechanical tuning of the interlayer coupling and associated electromagnetic response.The intellectual merit of this research is that it provides a novel approach to realize active and dynamic metamaterials. Strongly coupled metamaterial resonators provide a unique and, as yet unrealized, route to create tunable and adaptive electromagnetic composites. The transformative aspect of this project is the implementation of lateral displacement of coupled resonators using microelectromechanical systems technology. Fundamental interactions between split ring resonators in the strong coupling limit will be investigated as a function of lateral and interlayer spacing. This will enable optimization of the precision voltage-controlled response such that new metamaterial designs and fabrication methodologies can be used to implement real-time frequency tuning from terahertz to mid-infrared wavelengths. The chemical sensing capability of such metamaterials will be investigated given theoretical indications of enhanced sensitivity and selectivity afforded by the mechanically tuning.The broader impact of this research includes interdisciplinary education and training of undergraduate and graduate students, fostering development at the boundaries of research disciplines where exciting scientific and technological advances occur. Further, this project will serve as an excellent vehicle to recruit and women and minority scientists, and lead to the development of contemporary courses spanning from biology to physics, photonics, and engineering.