Conjugated polymer-based broadband terahertz wave modulator

Abstract

An optical broadband terahertz (THz) wave modulator, based on a polymer-inorganic interface, is investigated. The THz pulse transmission was efficiently modulated by an external continuous wave (CW) laser. The effects on the poly[2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethylhexyloxy)-1, 4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV)/silicon interface were measured by THz time-domain spectroscopy. The modulation factor reached 99.6%, at an external laser beam intensity of 6.3 W/cm2. In the proposed THz-CW system, a significant fall (in both THz transmission and reflection) was also observed at the MEH-PPV/Si interface. This reduction in THz transmission and reflection has been induced by absorption at the MEH-PPV/Si interface. The results show that an optically controlled polymer/inorganic broadband THz modulator can be realized.