Process-controllable modulation of plasmon-induced transparency in terahertz metamaterials

Recently reported plasmon-induced transparency (PIT) in metamaterials endows the optical structures in classical systems with quantum optical effects. In particular, the nonreconfigurable nature in metamaterials makes multifunctional applications of PIT effects in terahertz communications and optical networks remain a great challenge. Here, we present an ultrafast process-selectable modulation of the PIT effect. By incorporating silicon islands into diatomic metamaterials, the PIT effect is modulated reversely, depending on the vertical and horizontal configurations, with giant modulation depths as high as 129% and 109%. Accompanied by the enormous switching of the transparent window, remarkable slow light effect occurs.