Broadband circularly-polarized infrared emission from multilayer metamaterials

Development of a 2D metamaterial that preferentially emits broadband circularly-polarized (CP) infrared radiation is hindered by the fact that orthogonal electric-field components are uncorrelated at the surface of the thermal emitter, a consequence of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem. We achieve broadband CP thermal emission by fabricating a meanderline quarter-wave retarder on a transparent thermal-isolation layer. Behind this isolation layer, in thermal contact with the emitter, is a wire-grid polarizer. Along with an unavoidable linear polarized radiation characteristic from the meanderline, we measured a degree of circular polarization (DOCP) of 28%, averaged over the 8to 12 μm band. ©2011 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: (160.3918) Metamaterials; (260.5430) Polarization; (030.1640) Coherence; (030.5620) Radiative transfer; (120.5410) Polarimetry; (350.5610) Radiation. References and links 1. F. Marquier, C. Arnold, M. Laroche, J. J. Greffet, and Y. 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