Optical Reconfigurable Terahertz Devices using Phase Change Materials

Phase change materials (PCMs) have the ability to change their electrical and optical properties under electrical or optical excitations over a large frequency spectrum. These properties are attractive for developing future reconfigurable Terahertz (THz) devices. We report the demonstration of a THz device entirely fabricated with PCMs which can largely modify the transmission and polarization state of an incident THz wave using reversible phase changes in a GeTe material (insulating to metallic phase transition using optical excitations). Furthermore, we investigate the possibility to optically imprint grating-type GeTe crystalline structures within an amorphous GeTe film for further demonstrating reconfigurable THz devices.