Polarization characteristics of the metallic structure with elliptically helical metamaterials

In the last few years, there has been growing interest in the research of the polarizing optics consisting of sub-wavelength metamaterials due to the advantages of broad wavelength ranges, high temperature durability, and compact structures. So far, the metallic structure with the sub-wavelength metamaterials has been proved to achieve the linearly and the circularly polarized light. Therefore, there should be one question raised easily: Is it possible for the metallic structure with sub-wavelength metamaterials to generate the elliptically polarized light? To answer this question, we proposed a metallic structure with elliptically helical nanowires, and analyzed the polarization states of the transmitted light using FDTD method. It is confirmed that this metallic structure does have a giant elliptical dichroism. Furthermore, we also compared the distinct optical performances of elliptical single-, double-, three-, and four-helixes, and made a qualitative explanation for them. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America