Nonlinear Dielectric Metasurfaces for Terahertz Applications

Year: 2025

Authors: Habibighahfarokhi F., Sergaeva O., Carletti L., Franceschini P., Tognazzi A., Locatelli A., Leon U.A., Della Valle G., De Angelis C., Rocco D.

Autors Affiliation: Univ Brescia, Dept Informat Engn, Via Branze 38, I-2513 Brescia, Italy; CNR, Natl Inst Opt, Via Branze 45, I-25123 Brescia, Italy; Univ Palermo, Dept Engn, Viale Sci, I-90128 Palermo, Italy; Politecn Milan, Dept Phys, Piazza Leonardo Da Vinci 32, I-20133 Milan, Italy.

Abstract: The terahertz (THz) region of the electromagnetic spectrum, spanning from 0.1 to 30 THz, represents a prospering area in photonics, with transformative applications in imaging, communications, and material analysis. However, the development of efficient and compact THz sources has long been hampered by intrinsic material limitations, inefficient conversion processes, and complex phase-matching requirements. Recent breakthroughs in nonlinear optical mechanisms, resonant metasurface engineering, and advances in the fabrication processes for materials such as lithium niobate (LN) and aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs) have paved the way for innovative THz generation techniques. This review article explores the latest theoretical advances, together with key experimental results and outlines perspectives for future developments.

Journal/Review: PHOTONICS

Volume: 12 (4)      Pages from: 370-1  to: 370-19

More Information: The authors acknowledge financial support by the European Union-Next Generation EU, Mission 4 Component 1-PRIN 2022 project GRACE6G (2022H7RR4F) CUP D53D23001250001, PRIN 2022 PNR R project FLAIRS (P2022RFF9K) CUP D53D23016160001, PRIN 2022 project NO LIMITHz (2022BC5BW5) CUP D53D23001140001, PRIN 2020 project METEOR (2020EY2LJT), PRIN 2022 project HOTMETA (2022LENW33), and PNRR RESTART project SMART METASURFACES ADVANCING RADIO TECHNOLOGY-SMART-CUP E63C22002040007. This work was partially supported by the European Union under the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) of NextGenerationEU, of partnership on Telecommunications of the Future (PE00000001-program RESTART), S2 SUPER-Programmable Networks, Cascade project PRISM-CUP: C79J24000190004. This work was partially supported by the European Commission Horizon 2020 H2020-FETOPEN2018-2020 project METAFAST (899673).
KeyWords: optical rectification; resonant dielectric metasurfaces; localized surface phonon-polaritons
DOI: 10.3390/photonics12040370