Abstract

A novel concept for modulating far infrared light is presented. For TM-polarized light incident on a layer of a dens free electron gas high reflection properties arise due to plasma resonance. A change in electron density or in electron effective mass modulates the electron plasma frequency and hence the reflectivity of the layer. This leads to a small, integrable, and fast modulable mirror which may be used as a switching device (ellectrically, or optically driven).

© 1989 Optical Society of America