Abstract
Optically thin metasurfaces operating at sub-skin depth thicknesses are intriguing because of its associated low plasmonic losses (compared to optically thick, beyond skin-depth metasurfaces). However, their applicability has been restricted largely because of reduced free space coupling with incident radiations resulting in limited electromagnetic responses. To overcome such limitations, we propose enhancement of effective responses (resonances) in sub-skin depth metasurfaces through incorporation of magneto-transport (Giant Magneto Resistance, GMR) concept. Here, we experimentally demonstrate dynamic magnetic modulation of structurally asymmetric metasurfaces (consisting of superlattice arrangement of thin (~ 10 nm each) magnetic (Ni)/ nonmagnetic (Al) layers) operating at terahertz (THz) domain. With increasing magnetic field (applied from 0 to 30 mT approximately, implies increasing superlattice conductivity), we observe stronger confinement of electromagnetic energy at the resonances (both in dipole and Fano modes). Therefore, this study introduces unique magnetically reconfigurable ability in Fano resonant THz metamaterials, which directly improves its performances operating in the sub-skin depth regime. Our study can be explained by spin-dependent terahertz magneto-transport phenomena in metals and can stimulate the paradigm for on-chip spin-based photonic technology enabling dynamic magnetic control over compact, sub-wavelength, sub-skin depth metadevices.
Unipolar magnetic field pulses as an advantageous tool for ultrafast operations in superconducting Josephson “atoms”
