Microscopic springs turn fragile silicon into flexible terahertz metamaterial

Researchers at ORIST, with the University of Osaka and Tohoku University, developed a flexible, stretchable silicon whose response to terahertz waves can be tuned mechanically. Microscopic spiral springs etched into the silicon make the normally fragile material bendable and stretchable.

• Spiral springs etched into silicon enable bending and stretching
• Terahertz response can be tuned mechanically
• Work involved ORIST, University of Osaka and Tohoku University