This approach became essential for constructing negative index media, which laid a strong foundation for the burgeoning field of metamaterial photonics. Split-ring resonators as the basic building blocks of metamaterials were first proposed to be made up of metallic inclusions at the microwave frequencies. [9] However, beyond the microwave frequencies, metals show considerable Ohmic loss, which created the need for all-dielectric resonator platform with the promise to offer low-loss meta-optics and photonics. The last few years have witnessed an unprecedented use of dielectrics in optical metamaterials based on high-index dielectric materials that have strongly emerged as an alternative approach to disrupt the lossy metalbased subwavelength photonics. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Several interesting phenomena of metamaterials are driven by strong resonances, and their quality (Q) factors become an extremely important parameter that determines the strength of light-matter interaction. The structures with high Q factors offer a new route for strong localization of electromagnetic energy in near fields that allow ultrasensitive sensors and other optical devices. [19][20][21][22][23] Recent trends in this field are based on so-called bound statesThe authors declare no conflict of interest. Keywordsall-dielectric metasurface, bound states in the continuum, optically active metadevices, terahertz, ultrafast switching

In this article, we experimentally and numerically investigate a planar terahertz metamaterial (MM) geometry capable of exhibiting independently tunable multi-band electromagnetically induced transparency effect (EIT). The MM structure exhibits multi-band EIT effect due to the strong near field coupling between the bright mode of the cut-wire (CW) and dark modes of pair of asymmetric double C resonators (DCRs). The configuration allows us to independently tune the transparency windows which is challenging task in multiband EIT effect. The independent modulation is achieved by displacing one DCR with respect to the CW, while keeping the other asymmetric DCR fixed. We further examine steep dispersive behavior of the transmission spectra within the transparency windows and analyze slow light properties. A coupled harmonic oscillator based theoretical model is employed to elucidate as well as understand the experimental and numerical observations. The study can be highly significant in the development of multi-band slow light devices, buffers and modulators.

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A model is developed to study the eddy current induced in a thin conducting but nonmagnetic plate of finite size when exposed to a time varying magnetic field. The applied field may be uniform or vary in space. This model can accurately estimate the eddy current contour in the plate and loss due to eddy current. Power losses for plates of various dimensions and at different frequencies are calculated to establish the accuracy of the model. We have also calculated the magnetic field generated by the induced eddy current when the plate of finite size is placed between the two parallel poles of a dipole magnet made of magnetic material of very high permeability. The force acting on the plate due to the interaction of the induced eddy current and the applied external field is also calculated. The model can predict the time variation of force and eddy current. The model may be applicable to understand the effect of eddy current on the vacuum chamber of an accelerator. Various other applications, where this model is useful, are also reported. The results are compared against the results obtained by a simulation using a finite element based code. Here the rectangular plate is considered but the model can be applicable for other geometries as well.

Abstract:We demonstrate here an efficient THz source with low electrical power consumption. We have increased the maximum THz radiation power emitted from SI-GaAs based photoconductive emitters by two orders of magnitude. By irradiating the SI-GaAs substrate with Carbon-ions up to 2 m deep, we have created lot of defects and decreased the life time of photo-excited carriers inside the substrate. Depending on the irradiation dose we find 1 to 2 orders of magnitude decrease in total current flowing in the substrate, resulting in subsequent decrease of heat dissipation in the antenna. This has resulted in increasing maximum cut-off of the applied voltage across Photo-Conductive Emitter (PCE) electrodes to operate the device without thermal breakdown from ~35 V to > 150 V for the 25 m electrode gaps. At optimum operating conditions, carbon irradiated (10 14 ions/cm 2 ) PCEs give THz pulses with power about 100 times higher in comparison to the usual PCEs on SI-GaAs and electrical to THz power conversion efficiency has improved by a factor of ~ 800.Electromagnetic radiations having frequencies in Tera-hertz (THz) range (1THz = 10 12 Hz) are not so easy to generate [1] .But due to its applications in security imaging, bio-sensing, chemical identification, material characterization etc., there is high demand of high power THz sources, particularly sources which can generate short THz pulses with broadband spectrum. Till now, photoconductive emitters (PCEs) are known to be the best sources for high power THz pulse generation. Improving the efficiency of THz pulse sources with better designs or material, is one of the major goals of ongoing research in this field. There have been several attempts to increase the THz emission from these sources by modifying the electrical and optical properties of the semiconducting substrate [2] , design of electrodes [3] and patterning the active area of PCE in between the two electrodes [4] .In THz PCEs newly photo generated charge carriers (electron-hole pairs) via laser pulse of width less than 100 fs gets accelerated under already applied electric field and this sudden jump in number of free carriers and their acceleration gives sudden rise in the current. This sudden rise in current in pico-second time domain is responsible for THz pulse emission. In the case, where the semiconductor has carrier life time of less than a pico-second like LT-GaAs, current falls down to the dark level within picoseconds as electron hole pairs recombine with each other. Such materials are useful for the generation of bipolar THz pulses. In semiconductors like SI-GaAs which has carrier life time of more than 50 ps, fall in current takes relatively much longer time. Since electric field of the emitted THz pulse , where J(t)

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Photoconductive antennas (PCAs) are among the most conventional devices used for emission as well as detection of terahertz (THz) radiation. However, due to their low optical-to-THz conversion efficiencies, applications of these devices in out-of-laboratory conditions are limited. In this paper, we report several factors of enhancement in THz emission efficiency from conventional PCAs by coating a nano-layer of dielectric (TiO2) on the active area between the electrodes of a semi-insulating GaAs-based device. Extensive experiments were done to show the effect of thicknesses of the TiO2 layer on the THz power enhancement with different applied optical power and bias voltages. Multiphysics simulations were performed to elucidate the underlying physics behind the enhancement of efficiency of the PCA. Additionally, this layer increases the robustness of the electrode gaps of the PCAs with high electrical insulation as well as protect it from external dust particles.

The majority of visible light-active plasmonic catalysts are often limited to Au, Ag, Cu, Al, etc., which have considerations in terms of costs, accessibility, and instability. Here, we show hydroxy-terminated nickel nitride (Ni3N) nanosheets as an alternative to these metals. The Ni3N nanosheets catalyze CO2 hydrogenation with a high CO production rate (1212 mmol g−1 h−1) and selectivity (99%) using visible light. Reaction rate shows super-linear power law dependence on the light intensity, while quantum efficiencies increase with an increase in light intensity and reaction temperature. The transient absorption experiments reveal that the hydroxyl groups increase the number of hot electrons available for photocatalysis. The in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy shows that the CO2 hydrogenation proceeds via the direct dissociation pathway. The excellent photocatalytic performance of these Ni3N nanosheets (without co-catalysts or sacrificial agents) is suggestive of the use of metal nitrides instead of conventional plasmonic metal nanoparticles.