Controlling Intensity and Phase of Terahertz Radiation with an Optically Thin Liquid Crystal-Loaded Metamaterial

We experimentally demonstrate intensity and phase modulation of terahertz radiation using actively controlled large-area planar metamaterial (metafilm) hybridized with a 12 um thick layer of a liquid crystal. Active control was introduced through in-plane electrical switching of the liquid crystal, which enabled us to achieve a reversible single-pass absolute transmission change of 20 % and a phase change of 40 deg at only 20 V.