Multi-color Terahertz Spatial Light Modulator for Single-pixel Imaging

In contrast to existing electronically controlled terahertz (THz) spatial light modulators (SLMs) that rely on the resonant effect of metamaterials with narrow operation bandwidth, we present a novel approach in this work. We have designed, fabricated, and demonstrated a broadband electronically controlled 10×10 THz SLM. Each pixel of this SLM consists of a Schottky diode structure formed by metal microslits and an n-doped epitaxial GaAs layer. This configuration serves as real-time tunable, spectrally sensitive spatial masks for terahertz imaging, requiring only a single-pixel detector. To showcase the potential of our THz SLM, we have developed a single-pixel THz camera capable of spatial imaging of objects without any moving components.