Liquid crystal-tunable metamaterial absorber for THz frequency range

A numerical study of the electromagnetic properties of a liquid crystal-tunable metamaterial absorber (LCTMA) is presented. This artificial structure is characterized by an efficient absorption of terahertz electromagnetic radiation in a narrow frequency range. The selective absorption in the metamaterial is tuned by reconfiguration of a thin liquid crystal film separating the metal structures of the metamaterial. The required alignment of liquid crystal (LC) molecules is obtained by a constant voltage application to the metal structures of the absorber. The numerical simulation results of the absorption of LCTMA are compared to the experimental data for a similarly designed planar metamaterial structure.