High-Q terahertz metamaterial from superconducting niobium nitride films

Abstract

We present in this letter terahertz (THz) metamaterials with low ohmic losses made from low-temperature superconductor niobium nitride (NbN) films. The resonance properties are characterized by THz time-domain spectroscopy. The unloaded quality factor reaches as high as about 178 at 8 K with the resonance frequency at around 0.58 THz, which is about 24 times as many as gold metamaterials with the same structure. The unloaded quality factor also keeps high as the resonance frequency increases, which is about 90 at 1.02 THz that is close the gap frequency of NbN film. All these experimental observations are well understood in the framework of Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory and equivalent circuit model. Our work offers an efficient way to design and make high-performance THz electronic devices.