Terahertz Metamaterials for Molecule-specific Sensing Applications

Abstract

Terahertz (THz) electromagnetic waves enhanced by nanometer-scale metal structures significantly increase interaction with matter within the near-field. In particular, metamaterials with specially designed nanoslot structures provide a high electric field enhancement and resonance effect at specific frequency, can be optimized for intrinsic biochemical molecular vibrational modes. The THz metamaterial based sensing devices can be fabricated by typical photolithography and general semiconductor processes, which enables large-area imaging for bio samples as well.