Dynamic Wavefront Manipulation Enabled with VO2-Based Reflective Terahertz Metasurfaces

Dynamic wavefront control plays a crucial role in advancing terahertz (THz) high-precision non-destructive testing, wireless communication and high-resolution imaging. However, existing approaches to THz dynamic wavefront control suffer from inherent limitations, such complex structures, narrow operational bandwidth, and the ability to tune only a single function, significantly restricting their practical applications. To overcome these challenges, we propose a dynamic reflective THz metasurface based on nested split-ring unit cells. The nested unit cell consists of an outer double-split VO₂ ring resonator and an inner single-split aluminum ring deposited on a central VO₂ circular patch. By, respectively, rotating the inner and outer rings in the insulator and metal states of VO₂, independent full 2π phase coverage at 1.07 THz can be achieved in both VO₂ states while maintaining high polarization-conversion efficiency with a PCR exceeding 0.98, thereby enabling efficient dynamic wavefront control. Using these unit cells, we constructed three distinct reflective metasurfaces that, respectively, generate broadband focusing beams with tunable focal lengths, broadband vortex beams with different topological charges, and a broadband beam that can be switched between focusing and vortex modes by changing the state of VO₂. The design offers considerable flexibility for developing compact, multifunctional THz devices, with promising potential for integrated THz systems, high-capacity communications, and high-resolution imaging.