Jianguo Tian

Dynamically tunable plasmonically induced transparency in periodically patterned graphene nanostrips

We present a dynamically wavelength tunable plasmonically induced transparency (PIT) planar device composed of periodically patterned graphene nanostrips for the mid-infrared region. The PIT effect can be achieved by a single layer of graphene nanostrips for a fixed Fermi energy. The PIT resonant wavelength can be dynamically tuned while maintaining PIT modulation strength, transmission peaks, and spectral line width by varying the Fermi energy of graphene without re-optimizing and re-fabricating the nanostructures. A three-level plasmonic system is demonstrated to well explain the formation mechanism of the wavelength tunable PIT in the graphene nanostrips. This work may offer a further step in the development of a compact tunable PIT device.

Dynamically tunable broadband mid-infrared cross polarization converter based on graphene metamaterial

We present a mid-IR highly wavelength-tunable broadband cross polarization conversion composed of a single patterned top layer with L-shaped graphene nanostructures, a dielectric spacer, and a gold plane layer. It can convert linearly polarized light to its cross polarization in the reflection mode. The polarization conversion can be dynamically tuned and realize a broadband effect by varying the Fermi energy without reoptimizing and refabricating the nanostructures. This offers a further step in developing the tunable polarizers and the polarization switchers.

Mid-infrared tunable optical polarization converter composed of asymmetric graphene nanocrosses

We present a mid-IR highly tunable optical polarization converter composed of asymmetric graphene nanocrosses. It can convert linearly polarized light to circularly and elliptically polarized light or exhibit a giant optical activity at different wavelengths. The transmitted wavelength and polarization states can also be dynamically tuned by varying the Fermi energy of graphene, without reoptimizing and refabricating the nanostructures. This offers a further step in developing a controllable polarization converter.

Polarization-dependent optical absorption of graphene under total internal reflection

It is shown that graphene exhibits strong polarization-dependent optical absorption under total internal reflection. Compared with universal absorbance of 2.3%, larger absorption was observed in monolayer, bilayer, and few-layer graphenes for transverse electric (TE) wave under total internal reflection. Our result indicates that reflectance ratio of transverse magnetic wave to TE waves can easily provide the information of number of graphene layers. Furthermore, the enhanced light-graphene coupling in a wide spectral range will be great potential in many applications such as photodetector, photovoltaics, and optical sensor.

Ultrasensitive flow sensing of a single cell using graphene-based optical sensors.

On the basis of the polarization-dependent absorption of graphene under total internal reflection, we designed a graphene-based optical refractive index sensor with high resolution of 1.7 × 10(-8) and sensitivity of 4.3 × 10(7) mV/RIU, as well as an extensive dynamic range. This highly sensitive graphene optical sensor enables label-free, live-cell, and highly accurate detection of a small quantity of cancer cells among normal cells at the single-cell level and the simultaneous detection and distinction of two cell lines without separation. It provides an accurate statistical distribution of normal and cancer cells with fewer cells. This facile and highly sensitive sensing refractive index may expand the practical applications of the biosensor.

A polarization insensitive and wide-angle dual-band nearly perfect absorber in the infrared regime

We report the design, characterization, and experimental demonstration of an infrared dual-band metamaterial absorber composed of simple periodically patterned structures. Experimental results show that two distinct absorption peaks of 74% and 96% are obtained, which are in reasonable agreement with the simulations. We demonstrate two absorption resonances that are derived from the mixture of magnetic and electric plasmon resonances. The dual-band absorber is polarization insensitive and the absorption peaks remain high with large angles of incidence for both transverse electric and transverse magnetic polarizations, which provide more efficient absorptions for nonpolarized or oblique incident beams.

Emergent Functionality and Controllability in Few‐Layer Metasurfaces

Recent progress in metamaterial research has successfully exceeded the limitations imposed by conventional materials and optical devices, enabling the manipulation of electromagnetic waves as desired. The distinct characteristics and controlling abilities of metamaterials make them ideal candidates for novel photonics devices not only in traditional optics but also for biological detection, medical science, and metrology. However, the controllability and functionality of both single-layer metasurfaces and bulk metamaterials are not sufficient to meet the requirements of emerging technologies; hence, new solutions must be found. As such technologies advance, new functionalities will emerge as different or identical single-layer metasurfaces are combined. Thus, innovation in few-layer metasurfaces will become an increasingly important line of research. Here, these metasurfaces are classified according to their functionalities and the few-layer metasurfaces that have been proposed up to now are presented in a clear sequence. It is expected that, with further development in this area, few-layer metasurfaces will play an important role in the family of optical materials.

Sensitive Real-Time Monitoring of Refractive Indexes Using a Novel Graphene-Based Optical Sensor

Based on the polarization-sensitive absorption of graphene under conditions of total internal reflection, a novel optical sensor combining graphene and a microfluidic structure was constructed to achieve the sensitive real-time monitoring of refractive indexes. The atomic thickness and strong broadband absorption of graphene cause it to exhibit very different reflectivity for transverse electric and transverse magnetic modes in the context of a total internal reflection structure, which is sensitive to the media in contact with the graphene. A graphene refractive index sensor can quickly and sensitively monitor changes in the local refractive index with a fast response time and broad dynamic range. These results indicate that graphene, used in a simple and efficient total internal reflection structure and combined with microfluidic techniques, is an ideal material for fabricating refractive index sensors and biosensor devices, which are in high demand.

Measurement of the complex refractive index of tissue-mimicking phantoms and biotissue by extended differential total reflection method.

Refractive index of biotissue is a useful optical parameter in the biomedical field. An extended differential total reflection method is introduced to determine the complex refractive index. The real part is directly determined by differential of the reflectance curve, and the imaginary part is obtained from nonlinear fitting. The method is verified by a series of tissue-mimicking phantoms, porcine muscle and porcine adipose.

Coding Acoustic Metasurfaces

Coding acoustic metasurfaces can combine simple logical bits to acquire sophisticated functions in wave control. The acoustic logical bits can achieve a phase difference of exactly π and a perfect match of the amplitudes for the transmitted waves. By programming the coding sequences, acoustic metasurfaces with various functions, including creating peculiar antenna patterns and waves focusing, have been demonstrated.