Abstract. We present the directional beaming effect of light at the terahertz frequency by using a subwavelength slit in the metal film. The metal is dressed with anisotropic dielectric so that both the transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) polarized waves can be well guided on the metal surface and reach the phase matching. By using a periodical array of dielectric ridges and grooves around the slit, the guided waves can be scattered out of the slit and interfere with the transmitted light directly through the slit. The results performed by finite-difference at time-domain computations indicate that the directional beaming of light can be obtained simultaneously for both the TE and TM polarized waves after optimizing the geometric parameters. The structure may find great applications in polarization-independent optical devices such as couplers, connectors, beam collimator, and etc.

PACS numbers: 42.79.Ag, 42.68.Mj

Print publication: Issue 11 (November 2009)
Received 1 April 2009