Dynamic inversion of planar-chiral response of terahertz metasurface based on critical transition of checkerboard structures

Abstract

Dynamic inversion of the planar-chiral responses of a metasurface is experimentally demonstrated in the terahertz regime. To realize this inversion, the critical transition of the checkerboard-like metallic structures is used. Resonant structures with planar chirality and their complementary enantiomeric patterns are embedded in the checkerboard. Using vanadium dioxide as a variable resistance, the metasurface is implemented in the terahertz regime. The responses of the metasurface to circularly polarized waves are then characterized by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. Further, the sign of the circular conversion dichroism, which is closely related to the handedness of the planar chirality of the metasurface, is observed to be inverted at 0.64 THz by varying the temperature. Such invertible planar-chiral responses can be applied practically to the handedness-invertible chiral mirrors.