Ultrasensitive tunable terahertz lithium niobate metasurface sensing based on bound states in the continuum
Xinyao Yu, Fanghao Li, Tingting Lang, Jianyuan Qin, Xiao Ma
Abstract
Lithium niobate’s substantial nonlinear optical and electro-optic coefficients have recently thrust it into the limelight. This study presents a thorough review of bound states in the continuum (BICs) in lithium niobate metasurfaces, also suggesting their potential for sensing applications. We propose an all-dielectric tunable metasurface that offers high Q factor resonances in the terahertz range, triggered by symmetry-protected BICs. With exceptional sensitivity to changes in the refractive index of the surrounding medium, the metasurface can reach a sensitivity as high as 947 GHz/RIU. This paves the way for ultrasensitive tunable terahertz sensors, offering an exciting path for further research.