arXiv subjects

Marco Rahm

Publications and source records attributed to Marco Rahm.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2022

THz emission from Fe/Pt spintronic emitters with L1$_{0}$-FePt alloyed interface

Recent developments in nanomagnetism and spintronics have enabled the use of ultrafast spin physics for terahertz (THz) emission. Spintronic THz emitters, consisting of ferromagnetic FM / non-magnetic (NM) thin film heterostructures, have demonstrated impressive properties for the use in THz spectroscopy and have great potential in scientific and industrial applications. In this work, we focus on the impact of the FM/NM interface on the THz emission by investigating Fe/Pt bilayers with engineered interfaces. In particular, we intentionally modify the Fe/Pt interface by inserting an ordered L1$_{0}$-FePt alloy interlayer. Subsequently, we establish that a Fe/L1$_{0}$-FePt (2\,nm)/Pt configuration is significantly superior to a Fe/Pt bilayer structure, regarding THz emission amplitude. The latter depends on the extent of alloying on either side of the interface. The unique trilayer structure opens new perspectives in terms of material choices for the next generation of spintronic THz emitters.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Impedance-Matched Planar Metamaterial Beam Steerer for Terahertz Waves

Planar metamaterials with tailorable electromagnetic properties in the terahertz domain offer customized optics solutions that are needed for the development of imaging and spectroscopy systems. In particular, metamaterials carry the potential to substitute conventional bulky optics or can be basic building blocks for completely novel devices. In this respect it is advantageous that metamaterials can be devised to be impedance-matched to another material regarding their electromagnetic properties. Here, we design, fabricate and investigate a metamaterial with tailorable refractive index and impedance-matching to free space. The unit cell is comprised of two different pairs of cut-wires that provide almost independent control over the electric and magnetic response to an electromagnetic wave. For the example of a metamaterial with a uniform effective refractive index of 1.18, we experimentally demonstrate an amplitude transmission of more than 90% and a reflectivity of about 5% at a working frequency of 0.444THz. As a more functional device, we fabricate a terahertz gradient index beam steerer with a linear refractive index gradient from 1.14 to 2.66. We numerically simulate the electromagnetic wave propagation through the beam steerer and compare the electric field amplitude of the deflected wave with the terahertz field distribution that is measured behind the beam steerer in an imaging terahertz time-domain spectroscope. The numerically simulated deflection angle of 6.1{\deg} agrees well with the measured deflection angle of 5.95{\deg}. The measured peak amplitude transmission of the beam steerer amounts to almost 90%, which also agrees well with a simulated value of approximately 88%.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2019

Modification of spintronic terahertz emitter performance through defect engineering

Spintronic ferromagnetic/non-magnetic heterostructures are novel sources for the generation of THz radiation based on spin-to-charge conversion in the layers. The key technological and scientific challenge of THz spintronic emitters is to increase their intensity and frequency bandwidth. Our work reveals the factors to engineer spintronic Terahertz generation by introducing the scattering lifetime and the interface transmission for spin polarized, non-equilibrium electrons. We clarify the influence of the electron-defect scattering lifetime on the spectral shape and the interface transmission on the THz amplitude, and how this is linked to structural defects of bilayer emitters. The results of our study define a roadmap of the properties of emitted as well as detected THz-pulse shapes and spectra that is essential for future applications of metallic spintronic THz emitters.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

Towards loss compensated and lasing terahertz metamaterials based on optically pumped graphene

It is evidenced by numerical calculations that optically pumped graphene is suitable for compensating inherent loss in terahertz (THz) metamaterials. In a first step, the complex conductivity of graphene under optical pumping is calculated and the proper conditions for terahertz amplification in single layer graphene are determined. It is shown that amplification in graphene occurs for temperatures up to room temperature and for moderate pump intensities when pumped at a telecommunication wavelength $λ=1.5~\mathrm{μm}$. Furthermore, the amplification properties of graphene are evaluated and discussed at a temperature as low as $T=77~\mathrm{K}$ and a pump intensity $I=300~\mathrm{mW/mm^2}$ to investigate the coupling between graphene and a plasmonic split ring resonator (SRR) metamaterial. The contributions of ohmic and dielectric loss mechanisms are studied by full wave simulations. As a result, it is found that the loss of a split-ring resonator metamaterial can be compensated by optically stimulated amplification in graphene. Moreover, it is shown that a hybrid material consisting of asymmetric split-ring resonators and optically pumped graphene can exceed the laser threshold condition and can emit coherent THz radiation at minimum output power levels of $6 0~\mathrm{nW/mm^2}$. The use of optically pumped graphene is well suited for loss compensation in THz metamaterials and paves the way to new kinds of coherent THz sources.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2013

In-Plane Focusing of Terahertz Surface Waves on a Gradient Index Metamaterial Film

We designed and implemented a gradient index metasurface for the in-plane focusing of confined terahertz surface waves. We measured the spatial propagation of the surface waves by two-dimensional mapping of the complex electric field using a terahertz near-field spectroscope. The surface waves were focused to a diameter of 500 \micro m after a focal length of approx. 2 mm. In the focus, we measured a field amplitude enhancement of a factor of 3.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2012

Metamaterial near-field sensor for deep-subwavelength thickness measurements and sensitive refractometry in the terahertz frequency range

We present a metamaterial-based terahertz (THz) sensor for thickness measurements of subwavelength-thin materials and refractometry of liquids and liquid mixtures. The sensor operates in reflection geometry and exploits the frequency shift of a sharp Fano resonance minimum in the presence of dielectric materials. We obtained a minimum thickness resolution of 12.5 nm (1/16000 times the wavelength of the THz radiation) and a refractive index sensitivity of 0.43 THz per refractive index unit. We support the experimental results by an analytical model that describes the dependence of the resonance frequency on the sample material thickness and the refractive index.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2011

Hybridization Induced Transparency in composites of metamaterials and atomic media

We report hybridization induced transparency (HIT) in a composite medium consisting of a metamaterial and a dielectric. We develop an analytic model that explains HIT by coherent coupling between the hybridized local fields of the metamaterial and the dielectric or an atomic system in general. In a proof-of-principle experiment, we evidence HIT in a split ring resonator metamaterial that is coupled to α-lactose monohydrate. Both, the analytic model and numerical calculations confirm and explain the experimental observations. HIT can be considered as a hybrid analogue to electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and plasmon-induced transparency (PIT).

physics.optics↗

arXiv2011

Flat-face approximations of invisibility cloaks with planar metamaterial layers

Transformation optics (TO) is a powerful tool for the design of artiffcial materials with unprecedented optical properties. Here, we propose the approximation of TO structures of arbitrary shape by faceting, in which curved surfaces are approximated by at metamaterial layers that can be implemented by standard fabrication and stacking techniques. We illustrate the approximation approach for the specific example of a cylindrical invisibility cloak. First, we introduce a numerical method for the design of cloaks with arbitrary boundary shapes, and apply it to faceted shapes. Subsequently, we reduce the complexity of the metamaterials needed to implement the perfect faceted cloak by introducing several approximations, whose validity is quantified by an investigation of the scattering cross section.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2011

Covariant Description of Transformation Optics in Linear and Nonlinear Media

The technique of transformation optics (TO) is an elegant method for the design of electromagnetic media with tailored optical properties. In this paper, we focus on the formal structure of TO theory. By using a complete covariant formalism, we present a general transformation law that holds for arbitrary materials including bianisotropic, magneto-optical, nonlinear and moving media. Due to the principle of general covariance, the formalism is applicable to arbitrary space-time coordinate transformations and automatically accounts for magneto-electric coupling terms. The formalism is demonstrated for the calculation of the second harmonic generation in a twisted TO concentrator.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2010

Metamaterial-based gradient index lens with strong focusing in the THz frequency range

The development of innovative terahertz (THz) imaging systems has recently moved in the focus of scientific efforts due to the ability to screen substances through textiles or plastics. The invention of THz imaging systems with high spatial resolution is of increasing interest for applications in the realms of quality control, spectroscopy in dusty environment and security inspections. One of the main restrictions of current THz imaging systems is the low spatial resolution which is limited by a lack of THz lenses with strong focusing capabilities. Here we present the design, fabrication and the measurement of the optical properties of spectrally broadband metamaterial-based gradient index (GRIN) lenses that allow one to focus THz radiation to a spot diameter smaller than the wavelength. Due to the subwavelength thickness and the high focusing strength the presented GRIN lenses are an important step towards compact THz imaging systems with strongly improved spatial resolution.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2010

Gradient Index Metamaterial Based on Slot Elements

We present a gradient-index (GRIN) metamaterial based on an array of annular slots. The structure allows a large variation of the effective refractive index under normal-to-plane incidence and thus enables the construction of GRIN devices consisting of only a small number of functional layers. Using full-wave simulations, we demonstrate the annular slot concept by means of a 3-unit-cell thin GRIN lens for the terahertz (THz) range. In the presented realizations, we achieved an index contrast of Delta n = 1.5 resulting in a highly refractive lens suitable for focusing THz radiation to a spot size smaller than the wavelength.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2009

Experimental and numerical studies of terahertz surface waves on a thin metamaterial film

We present experimental and numerical studies of localized terahertz surface waves on a subwavelength-thick metamaterial film consisting of in-plane split-ring resonators. A simple and intuitive model is derived that describes the propagation of surface waves as guided modes in a waveguide filled with a Lorentz-like medium. The effective medium model allows to deduce the dispersion relation of the surface waves in excellent agreement with the numerical data obtained from 3-D full-wave calculations. Both the accuracy of the analytical model and the numerical calculations are confirmed by spectroscopic terahertz time domain measurements.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2009

Highly Selective Terahertz Bandpass Filters Based on Trapped Mode Excitation

We present two types of metamaterial-based spectral bandpass filters for the terahertz (THz) frequency range. The metamaterials are specifically designed to operate for waves at normal incidence and to be independent of the field polarization. The functional structures are embedded in films of benzocyclobutene (BCB) resulting in large-area, free-standing and flexible membranes with low intrinsic loss. The proposed filters are investigated by THz time-domain spectroscopy and show a pronounced transmission peak with over 80]% amplitude transmission in the passband and a transmission rejection down to the noise level in the stopbands. The measurements are supported by numerical simulations which evidence that the high transmission response is related to the excitation of trapped modes.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2007

Optical design of reflectionless complex media by finite embedded coordinate transformations

Transformation optics offers an unconventional approach to the control of electromagnetic fields. A transformation optical structure is designed by first applying a form-invariant coordinate transform to Maxwell's equations, in which part of free space is distorted in some desired manner. The coordinate transformation is then applied to the permittivity and permeability tensors to yield the specification for a complex medium with desired functionality. The transformation optical structures proposed to date, such as electromagnetic "invisibility" cloaks and concentrators, are inherently reflectionless and leave the transmitted wave undisturbed. Here we expand the class of transformation optical structures by introducing finite, embedded coordinate transformations, which allow the electromagnetic waves to be steered or focused. We apply the method to the design of several devices, including a parallel beam shifter and a beam splitter, both of which exhibit unusual electromagnetic behavior as confirmed by 2D full-wave simulations. The devices are designed to be reflectionless, in accordance with a straightforward topological criterion.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2007

Design of Electromagnetic Cloaks and Concentrators Using Form-Invariant Coordinate Transformations of Maxwell's Equations

The technique of applying form-invariant, spatial coordinate transformations of Maxwell's equations can facilitate the design of structures with unique electromagnetic or optical functionality. Here, we illustrate the transformation-optical approach in the designs of a square electromagnetic cloak and an omni-directional electromagnetic field concentrator. The transformation equations are described and the functionality of the devices is numerically confirmed by two-dimensional finite element simulations. The two devices presented demonstrate that the transformation optic approach leads to the specification of complex, anisotropic and inhomogeneous materials with well directed and distinct electromagnetic behavior.

physics.optics↗