Strong terahertz absorption bands in a scaled plasmonic crystal

The authors show the existence of strong absorption bands at terahertz frequencies in scaled plasmonic crystals composed of a periodic arrangement of two-dimensional electron-gas shells. The absorption bands appear as a result of the excitation of plasmon modes supported by the shells and can be tuned throughout the entire terahertz spectral region by varying the electron-gas density in the shells. These plasmonic crystals exhibit promising properties enabling their applications as tunable terahertz filters, absorbers, and thermally activated sources. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.