Zhao Zihan, Wang Hongwei, Hu Guangwei, Alù Andrea
School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore.
Photonics Initiative, Advanced Science Research Center, City University of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA.
Research (Wash D C). 2025 Aug 27;8:0882. doi: 10.34133/research.0882. eCollection 2025.
The terahertz (THz) frequency range, situated between microwave and infrared radiation, has emerged as a pivotal domain with broad applications in high-speed communication, imaging, sensing, and biosensing. The development of topological THz metadevices represents a notable advancement for photonic technologies, leveraging the distinctive electronic properties and quantum-inspired phenomena inherent to topological materials. These devices enable robust waveguiding capabilities, positioning them as critical components for on-chip data transfer and photonic integrated circuits, particularly within emerging 6G communication frameworks. A principal advantage resides in the capacity to maintain low-loss wave propagation while effectively suppressing backscattering phenomena, a critical requirement for functional components operating at higher frequencies. In parallel, by leveraging advanced materials such as liquid crystals, plasma, and phase-change materials, these devices facilitate real-time control over essential wave parameters, including amplitude, frequency, and phase, which augments the functionality of both communication and sensing systems, opening new avenues for THz-based technologies. This review outlines fundamental principles of topological components and reconfigurable metadevices operating at THz frequencies. We further explore emerging strategies that integrate topological properties and reconfigurability, with a specific focus on their implementation in chip-scale photonic circuits and free-space wavefront control.
太赫兹(THz)频率范围位于微波和红外辐射之间,已成为一个关键领域,在高速通信、成像、传感和生物传感等方面有着广泛应用。拓扑太赫兹超材料器件的发展是光子技术的一项显著进步,它利用了拓扑材料固有的独特电子特性和受量子启发的现象。这些器件具备强大的波导能力,使其成为片上数据传输和光子集成电路的关键组件,特别是在新兴的6G通信框架中。一个主要优势在于能够在有效抑制背散射现象的同时保持低损耗波传播,这是高频工作功能组件的一项关键要求。与此同时,通过利用液晶、等离子体和相变材料等先进材料,这些器件便于对包括幅度、频率和相位在内的基本波参数进行实时控制,从而增强通信和传感系统的功能,为基于太赫兹的技术开辟了新途径。本综述概述了太赫兹频率下拓扑组件和可重构超材料器件的基本原理。我们进一步探索整合拓扑特性和可重构性的新兴策略,特别关注它们在芯片级光子电路和自由空间波前控制中的应用。