A tunable terahertz filter and its switching properties in terahertz region based on a defect mode of a metallic photonic crystal

Abstract

We theoretically investigate and discuss an electrically tunable terahertz filter design and its optical switching properties based on the defect mode of a woodpile metallic photonic crystal (MPC). The model filter design is based on a dual use of an MPC as a resonator and as electrodes with a liquid crystal used as a defect layer. The static and the dynamic responses of a realistic liquid crystal are obtained using the Oseen-Frank elastic continuum theory, and the corresponding transmission spectra are calculated using an analytic modal expansion method combined with a transfer-matrix method. The tuning range of f = 1.430 similar to 1.577 THz and the order of milliseconds switching property are observed in our design. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3603009]