We experimentally demonstrate intensity and phase modulation of terahertz radiation using actively controlled large-area planar metamaterial (metafilm) hybridized with a 12 um thick layer of a liquid crystal. Active control was introduced through in-
plane electrical switching of the liquid crystal, which enabled us to achieve a reversible single-pass absolute transmission change of 20 % and a phase change of 40 deg at only 20 V.
We present an analytical model describing complex dynamics of a hybrid nonlinear system consisting of interacting carbon nanotubes (CNT) and a plasmonic metamaterial. Our model is based on the set of coupled equations, which incorporates well-establi
shed density matrix formalism appropriate for quantum systems (CNT are described as a two level system) and harmonic-oscillator approach ideal for modelling sub-wavelength plasmonic and optical resonators. We show that the saturation nonlinearity of CNT increases multifold in the resonantly enhanced near field of a metamaterial. In the framework of our model, we discuss the effect of inhomogeneity of the CNT layer (band gap value distribution) on the nonlinearity enhancement. It is shown, that the Purcell effect is indistinguishable from the field enhancement and is described by the same phenomenological constant.
