Mapping the near-field propagation of surface plasmons on terahertz metasurfaces

Controlling the propagation of surface plasmon polaritons is essential in developing highly integrated photonic devices. By using near-field scanning terahertz microscopy, we experimentally demonstrate that polarization-controlled tunable surface plasmons (SPs) could be directionally excited on a metal surface with carved columns of aperture resonators under special arrangement. The experimental results reveal that terahertz SPs could be unidirectionally launched in opposite directions owning to destructive and constructive interferences on the two sides with circularly polarized incident waves of opposite handedness. Meanwhile, the linearly polarized wave is able to excite the terahertz SPs along either side of the structures. The presented results would be useful to implement functional terahertz plasmonic devices. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.