Surface acoustic waves to monitor active THz metagrating based on VO2

Abstract

We theoretically propose a new approach to in-situ monitor the altered states of pixels in VO2 based active THz amplitude metagrating by using surface acoustic waves (SAWs) generated in LiNbO3 substrate. A single broadband RF response of the SAW device consists of N narrowband frequency channels which code the feedback information on the current pixels states. This way the resistance alteration due to metal-to-insulator transition of all VO2 based pixels of the active THz grating is monitored in advance even without incident radiation. The method provides important new options of monitoring a metasurface aging as well as incorrect switching related to technological defects. Using of the SAW device in all-electrically addressed VO2 based binary grating with tunable period as well as advanced gradient type gratings are modeled.