A review of terahertz phase modulation from free space to guided wave integrated devices
Zeng Hongxin,
Gong Sen,
Wang Lan,
Zhou Tianchi,
Zhang Yaxin,
Lan Feng,
Cong Xuan,
Wang Luyang,
Song Tianyang,
Zhao YunCheng,
Yang Ziqiang,
Mittleman Daniel M.
Affiliations
Zeng Hongxin
Sichuan Terahertz Communication Technology Engineering Research Center, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
Gong Sen
Sichuan Terahertz Communication Technology Engineering Research Center, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
Wang Lan
Sichuan Terahertz Communication Technology Engineering Research Center, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
Zhou Tianchi
Sichuan Terahertz Communication Technology Engineering Research Center, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
Zhang Yaxin
Sichuan Terahertz Communication Technology Engineering Research Center, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
Lan Feng
Sichuan Terahertz Communication Technology Engineering Research Center, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
Cong Xuan
Sichuan Terahertz Communication Technology Engineering Research Center, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
Wang Luyang
Sichuan Terahertz Communication Technology Engineering Research Center, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
Song Tianyang
Sichuan Terahertz Communication Technology Engineering Research Center, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
Zhao YunCheng
Shijiazhuang Communication Measurement and Control Technology Research Institute, Shijiazhuang, China
Yang Ziqiang
Sichuan Terahertz Communication Technology Engineering Research Center, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
Mittleman Daniel M.
School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
In the past ten years, terahertz technology has developed rapidly in wireless communications, spectroscopy, and imaging. Various functional devices have been developed, such as filters, absorbers, polarizers, mixers, and modulators. Among these, the terahertz phase modulation is a current research hotspot. It is the core technology to realize flexible control of the terahertz wavefront, beam scanning, focusing deflection. It is indispensable in terahertz wireless communication, high-resolution imaging, and radar systems. This review summarizes the research progress of terahertz phase modulators from the two major types: free space and guided wave integration. Among these, the free space terahertz phase modulator is realized by combining the tunable materials and artificial metasurfaces. Based on different types of tunable materials, the terahertz free space phase modulator combining the semiconductor, liquid crystal, phase change materials, graphene, and other two-dimensional materials are introduced, and the influence of different materials on the phase modulation performance is discussed and analyzed. The monolithic integration and waveguide embedding methods are introduced separately, and the characteristics of different forms of terahertz-guided wave phase modulation are also discussed. Finally, the development trends of terahertz phase modulators, possible new methods, and future application requirements are discussed.
