Ultrasensitive Terahertz Fingerprint Retrieval with Multiple-BIC-Enabled Meta-Sensors

Abstract

Bound states in the continuum (BICs) are an excellent platform enabling highly efficient light–matter interaction in applications for lasing, nonlinear generation, and sensing. However, the current focus in implementing BICs has primarily been on single sharp resonances, limiting the extent of electric field enhancement for multiple resonances. In this study, experimental demonstrations are conducted to showcase how metasurfaces can enable the control of symmetry-broken and Friedrich–Wintgen BICs by leveraging the asymmetry of split resonant rings. This approach allows for the existence of multiple free-control BIC resonances and tailored enhancement of controlling light–matter interactions. Further experiments are conducted to validate the effectiveness and performance of meta-sensors for the identification of the distinct fingerprint of α-lactose with high sensitivity using only one single metasurface. These findings present a novel and efficient platform for the development of miniaturized and chip-scale photonics devices with intense light–matter interaction.