The perspective of topological photonics for on-chip terahertz modulation and sensing

Abstract

Terahertz (THz) technology has seen significant advancements in the past decades, encompassing both fundamental scientific research, such as THz quantum optics, and highly applied areas like sixth-generation communications, medical imaging, and biosensing. However, the progress of on-chip THz integrated waveguides still lags behind that of THz sources and detectors. This is attributed to issues such as ohmic losses in microstrip lines, coplanar and hollow waveguides, bulky footprints, and reflection and scattering losses occurring at sharp bends or defects in conventional dielectric waveguides. Inspired by the quantum Hall effects and topological insulators in condensed matter systems, recent discoveries of topological phases of light have led to the development of topological waveguides. These waveguides exhibit remarkable phenomena, such as robust unidirectional propagation and reflectionless behavior against impurities or defects. As a result, they hold tremendous promise for THz on-chip applications. While THz photonic topological insulators (PTIs), including wave division, multiport couplers, and resonant cavities, have been demonstrated to cover a wavelength range of 800–2500 nm, research on tunable THz PTIs remains limited. In this perspective, we briefly reviewed a few examples of tunable PTIs, primarily concentrated in the infrared range. Furthermore, we proposed how these designs could benefit the development of THz on-chip PTIs. We explore the potential methods for achieving tunable THz PTIs through optical, electrical, and thermal means. Additionally, we present a design of THz PTIs for potential on-chip sensing applications. To support our speculation, several simulations were performed, providing valuable insights for future THz on-chip PTI designs.