Polarization-insensitive electro-optic switching in terahertz MEMS metamaterial

We present the design, simulation, and characterization of structurally reconfigurable metamaterials showing terahertz (THz) frequency switching with polarization-insensitive response. The metamaterial unit cell consists of an octagon ring with eight out-of-plane deformable cantilevers placed at each of its vertex. The polarization insensitive characteristic has been demonstrated by both the electromagnetic simulation and the experimental measurement. The metamaterial has dual band switching characteristics with a measured contrast of 20% and 80% at 0.44 THz and 0.575 THz, respectively. The observed polarization-insensitive switching could be used for the development of isotropic THz devices to be used in spectroscopy, ellipsometry and multicolor THz imaging applications.