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Photonic terahertz phased array via selective excitation of nonlinear Pancharatnam-Berry elements

Author

Listed:
  • Li Niu

    (Tianjin University)

  • Xi Feng

    (Tianjin University)

  • Xueqian Zhang

    (Tianjin University)

  • Yongchang Lu

    (Tianjin University)

  • Qingwei Wang

    (Tianjin University)

  • Quan Xu

    (Tianjin University)

  • Xieyu Chen

    (Tianjin University)

  • Jiajun Ma

    (Tianjin University)

  • Haidi Qiu

    (Tianjin University)

  • Wei E. I. Sha

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Shuang Zhang

    (University of Hong Kong)

  • Andrea Alù

    (City University of New York
    City University of New York)

  • Weili Zhang

    (Oklahoma State University)

  • Jiaguang Han

    (Tianjin University
    Guilin University of Electronic Technology)

Abstract

Phased arrays are crucial in various technologies, such as radar and wireless communications, due to their ability to precisely control and steer electromagnetic waves. This precise control improves signal processing and enhances imaging performance. However, extending phased arrays to the terahertz (THz) frequency range has proven challenging, especially for high-frequency operation, broadband performance, two-dimensional (2D) phase control with large antenna arrays, and flexible phase modulation. Here, we introduce a photonic platform to realize a THz phased array that bypasses the above challenges. Our method employs 2D phase coding with 2-bit across a broad THz frequency range from 0.8 to 1.4 THz. The core of our design is a pixelated nonlinear Pancharatnam-Berry (PB) metasurface driven by a spatially modulated femtosecond laser for selective excitation of the desired PB elements, allowing precise phase and wavefront control of the emitted THz signals. We showcase the effectiveness of our method through four proof-of-concept applications: single beamforming, dual beamforming, imaging, and vortex beam generation. The realized photonic platform provides a promising pathway for developing broadband phased arrays in the THz regime.

Suggested Citation

  • Li Niu & Xi Feng & Xueqian Zhang & Yongchang Lu & Qingwei Wang & Quan Xu & Xieyu Chen & Jiajun Ma & Haidi Qiu & Wei E. I. Sha & Shuang Zhang & Andrea Alù & Weili Zhang & Jiaguang Han, 2025. "Photonic terahertz phased array via selective excitation of nonlinear Pancharatnam-Berry elements," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-63127-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63127-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cormac McDonnell & Junhong Deng & Symeon Sideris & Tal Ellenbogen & Guixin Li, 2021. "Functional THz emitters based on Pancharatnam-Berry phase nonlinear metasurfaces," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Yan Yan & Guodong Xie & Martin P. J. Lavery & Hao Huang & Nisar Ahmed & Changjing Bao & Yongxiong Ren & Yinwen Cao & Long Li & Zhe Zhao & Andreas F. Molisch & Moshe Tur & Miles J. Padgett & Alan E. Wi, 2014. "High-capacity millimetre-wave communications with orbital angular momentum multiplexing," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-9, December.
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