A photoexcited switchable perfect metamaterial absorber/reflector with polarization-independent and wide-angle for terahertz waves

We present a photoexcited switchable perfect metamaterial absorber/reflector for terahertz waves. The switchable absorber/reflector is based on a cross-shaped structure (CSS) integrated semiconductor photoconductive silicon (Si). The electric response property of the photoconductive Si can be easily modified through a pump optical beam. The conductivity of Si pads filled in the gap of CSS is tuned efficiently through the incident pump optical beam with different power, resulting in the modulation of absorption magnitude from 0 to 100% at the fixed operation frequency. Thus, the switch ability of the perfect absorber/reflector can be easily realized. Furthermore, the proposed design is polarization insensitive and operated well at wide incidence angles for both TE and TM waves. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.