In this article, we experimentally and numerically investigate a planar terahertz metamaterial (MM) geometry capable of exhibiting independently tunable multi-band electromagnetically induced transparency effect (EIT). The MM structure exhibits multi-band EIT effect due to the strong near field coupling between the bright mode of the cut-wire (CW) and dark modes of pair of asymmetric double C resonators (DCRs). The configuration allows us to independently tune the transparency windows which is challenging task in multiband EIT effect. The independent modulation is achieved by displacing one DCR with respect to the CW, while keeping the other asymmetric DCR fixed. We further examine steep dispersive behavior of the transmission spectra within the transparency windows and analyze slow light properties. A coupled harmonic oscillator based theoretical model is employed to elucidate as well as understand the experimental and numerical observations. The study can be highly significant in the development of multi-band slow light devices, buffers and modulators.

In this article, we experimentally and numerically investigated a metamaterial (MM) geometry capable of exhibiting polarization independent double-band electromagnetic induced transparency (EIT) effect. The meta-molecule unit of the proposed MM configuration composed of a strip and two asymmetric split ring resonators (SRRs). For polarization independent double-band EIT effect, the existing meta-molecule unit is converted into a cross-like structure adorned with four SRRs. Terahertz transmission response is analyzed for two orthogonal polarization directions of the incident light to confirm the polarization independent response. In order to understand and explain our numerical findings more elaborately we have employed four-level tripod atomic system based analytical model. The transmission response is also analyzed for different angle of incidence of the two orthogonal polarizations. In order to demonstrate the practical applicability of our study, we have studied the effect of transmission with the change of refractive index of analyte of thickness 10 μ m coated on the top of the MM resonators. The calculated sensitivities for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd dips are 121 GHz/RIU, 138 GHz/RIU and 135 GHz/RIU (RIU, refractive index unit) respectively. Our study can also play an important role in the advancement of slow light devices, modulators and filters.

In quantum optical Enhancement of Index of Refraction (EIR), coherence and quantum interference render the atomic systems to exhibit orders of magnitude higher susceptibilities with vanishing or even negative absorption at their resonances. Here we show the plasmonic analogue of the quantum optical EIR effect in an optical system and further implement this in a linear all-optical switching mechanism. We realize plasmon-induced EIR using a particular plasmonic metasurface consisting of a square array of L-shaped meta-molecules. In contrast to the conventional methods, this approach provides a scheme to modulate the amplitude of incident signals by coherent control of absorption without implementing gain materials or nonlinear processes. Therefore, light is controlled by applying ultra-low intensity at the extreme levels of spatiotemporal localization. In the pursuit of potential applications of linear all-optical switching devices, this scheme may introduce an effective tool for improving the modulation strength of optical modulators and switches through the amplification of input signals at ultra-low power.

In this article, we demonstrate a technique to enhance the Terahertz (THz) emission bandwidth from photo-conductive antenna (PCA) based on semiconducting substrates by manipulating the surface carrier dynamics of the semiconductor. Bandwidths in PCAs are limited by the decay of the photogenerated charge carriers, which in case of SI-GaAs is in the orders of 50 picoseconds. We show, with an embedded design of plasmonic meta-surface in the photoconductive gap of a PCA, it is possible to enhance the emission bandwidths by more than 50 percent. This is due to the fact that these nano-structures act as local recombination sites for the photogenerated carriers, effectively reducing the carriers’ lifetime. Additionally, the defect sites reduce the terminal current, thereby reducing the Joule heating in the device. Furthermore, the meta-surface also facilitates higher in-coupling of the exciting infrared light on to the PCA, thereby increasing the optical-to-THz conversion efficiency of the device.