Voltage-controlled liquid-crystal terahertz phase shifter with indium-tin-oxide nanowhiskers as transparent electrodes

Indium-tin-oxide nanowhiskers were employed as transparent electrodes in a liquid-crystal terahertz phase shifter. Transmittance of the device was as high as similar to 75%. Phase shift exceeding pi/2 at 1.0 THz is achieved in a similar to 500 mu m-thick cell. The driving voltage required for the device operating as a quarter-wave plate was as low as 17.68 V (rms), an improvement of nearly an order of magnitude over previous work. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America