Giant terahertz polarization rotation in ultrathin films of aligned carbon nanotubes

• DOI: 10.1364/optica.422826
• Publication Date: 2021-04-19T11:02:46Z
• Authors: Andrey Baydin; Natsumi Komatsu; Fuyang Tay; Saunab Ghosh; Takuma Makihara; G. Timothy Noe; Junichiro Kono
• Keywords: FOS: Physical sciences; 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology; Physics - Optics; Optics (physics.optics)

For facile manipulation of polarization states light for applications in communications, imaging, and information processing, an efficient mechanism is desired rotating with a minimum interaction length. Here, we report giant rotations terahertz (THz) electromagnetic waves ultrathin (~45 nm), high-density films aligned carbon nanotubes. We observed up to ~20{\deg} ~110{\deg} transmitted reflected THz pulses, respectively. The amount rotation was sensitive function the angle between incident nanotube alignment direction, exhibiting `magic' at which total through transmission reflection becomes exactly 90{\deg}. Our model quantitatively explains these as result extremely anisotropic optical constants, demonstrating that nanotubes promise ultrathin, broadband, tunable devices.