Optical switching and beam steering with a graphene-based hyperprism

It is well established that the topological transition of the iso-frequency surface (IFS) of hyperbolic metamaterials from the ellipsoid to hyperboloid provides unique capabilities for controlling the propagation of the wave. Here, we present a graphene-based hyperprism (GHP) structure that uses an electronically controlled modulation strategy to achieve optical switching and wide-angle beam steering functions. Numerical simulation results show that, by regulating the chemical potential of GHP, the optical switching system can achieve high transmission (97%) and zero transmission, as well as the beam steering system can reach a maximum adjustable angle of 52.94 degrees. Furthermore, the effects of Fermi energy and relaxation time on transmittance are also investigated. These works may provide new opportunities for applications such as optical data storage, modulators, and integrated photonic circuits. (C) 2020 Optical Society of America under the terms of the OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement