Master of Science

thesisTo dynamically arbitrarily shape electromagnetic wavefronts has always presented a challenge in millimeter wave and terahertz (THz) technologies. While traditional optical components such as lenses and mirrors can provide the ability to do so, a common issue that might present a problem for long-term technologies is how to dynamically steer a beam without employing mechanical parts. However, recent developments in terms of metamaterial technologies and new materials, such as liquid crystals and phase changing materials, show that it may be possible to create devices that can dynamically steer a beam using little-to-no mechanical parts. Static devices of this nature have already been created by others for the near-infrared region. However, few of such devices exist in the THz region, where demonstrations of dynamic beam steering are scarce. The purpose of this thesis is to explore dynamic beam steering of THz waves using metasurfaces from numerical simulations, which will be correlated with results from a preliminary test device that has been fabricated and measured. This thesis will contain an overview of a metamaterial device designed and fabricated to steer a THz beam. It will first review the mathematics and physics behind such a design. Then simulations used to design the device will be discussed. Finally, this thesis will describe the experimental procedures used to test the prototype structures, and discuss the results