Plug-and-play terahertz multifunctional metadevices based on metal waveguide arrays and 3D printed structures

Abstract

The emergence of metadevices has provided an unprecedented ability to manipulate electromagnetic waves, especially in the terahertz band where natural materials are scarce. However, most metadevices have fixed and singular functions after fabrication, making them challenging to adapt to various application scenarios. The paper proposes a reconfigurable multifunctional metadevices platform that integrates metal waveguide arrays with 3D printed structures, capable of independently and simultaneously manipulating the polarisation, phase, and amplitude of two orthogonally polarised terahertz waves. For proof-of-concept experimental demonstration, metadevices featuring polarisation selection, beam deflection, and dual-channel imaging functions are designed, fabricated, and characterised. By replacing the 3D printed structures, reconfiguration between different functions is achieved, with a control efficiency exceeding 60%. Compared to traditional semiconductor processing methods, this modular design approach is not only more cost-effective but also more adaptable, making it highly suitable for applications requiring large-scale metadevices.

Keywords

• Terahertz wave
• reconfigurable metadevice
• 3D printing
• polarisation multiplexing