Linear polarization switching in terahertz MEMS metamaterial

Microelectromechnical system based metamaterial with independent control of TE and TM mode response is experimentally reported. At 0.8 THz, the metamaterial can be reconfigured to be either TE responsive, TM responsive, polarization insensitive or non-responsive for both polarization of incident light by controlling the states of the microcantilevers forming the unit cell. These metamaterials are highly attractive for the development of THz tunable wave plates, filters and polarimetric devices.