Nano-Electro-Mechanical Switchable (NEMS) photonic metamaterial

Ou, J-Y., Plum, E., Chen, W.T., Tsai, D.P. and Zheludev, N.I. (2012) Nano-Electro-Mechanical Switchable (NEMS) photonic metamaterial. SPIE Photonics Europe 2012, , Brussels, Belgium. 16 - 19 Apr 2012.

Abstract

Lack of tunability is a key challenge for metamaterials, whose unique properties are usually fixed and limited to a single resonant wavelength. Here we introduce nanoelectro-mechanical switchable (NEMS) photonic metamaterials as a flexible platform for large-range tuning, switching and modulation of metamaterial properties in the optical part of the spectrum.
We tune, switch and modulate the optical properties of metamaterials by controlling the spacing and thus coupling between nanoscale metamaterial resonators. The metamolecules are placed on electrically conductive, flexible support structures, the spacing of which depends on electrostatic forces resulting from an applied voltage. For small applied voltages the electrostatic force is balanced by the elastic restoring force of the support structures, giving rise to continuously tunable optical properties, which can be modulated at rates in excess of 100 kHz. However, when the applied voltage is increased beyond 5.7 V the electrostatic force overcomes the restoring force, resulting in high-contrast, step-like switching of the metamaterial’s optical properties including a 15% red-shift of its resonance and a 72% reflectivity change in the telecommunications band around 1500 nm.
Apart from fast modulation, tuning and high-contrast switching of their optical properties, voltage-controlled NEMS photonic metamaterials easily integrate with electronics, making them a flexible and practical solution for tunable metamaterial devices

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Contributors

Author: J-Y. Ou

Author: E. Plum

Author: N.I. Zheludev

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