Tri-controllable polarization insensitive graphene-InSb pixelated metamaterial for thermal sensing

Graphene and InSb supported metamaterial structure was investigated for thermal sensing application in the THz regime. The top metasurface comprises a squared and four nanostrips of graphene pixels suitably mounted over the InSb nanolayer, the constitutive properties of which can be altered due to varying thermal ambience and magnetic field. The chemical potential of graphene also controls the properties of metamaterial. This way, the transmission properties could be modulated by a three-way control. The configuration exhibits sharp transmission minima in a range of 4–10 THz. Apart from the polarization insensitive spectral characteristics, the results revealed shifts in the transmission minima under external stimuli – the property which can be used for thermal sensing application. The use of magnetic field enhances the sensitivity of the pixelated metamaterial under investigation.