Dynamically reconfigurable metamaterials for shielding and absorption in the GHz range

A dynamically reconfigurable metamaterial is presented where the complex frequency dependent permittivity of a silicon substrate is modified in the GHz range by an incident optical (infrared, IR) plane wave; the IR allows the generation of electron-hole pairs, thus modifying the substrate dielectric properties. Moreover the IR is spatially modulated to generate different permittivities along the two polarization directions thus achieving anisotropic material. The slab response is studied in terms of GHz power transmitted, reflected, and absorbed by the metamaterial.