Furtwangen researchers showcase novel metasurface solutions
From September 7 to 10, 2025, the 25th Eurosensors Conference took place at Wrocław University of Science and Technology in Poland – one of the leading European events in the field of sensors, micro- and nanosystems. The Institute of Microsystems Technology (iMST) at Furtwangen University was represented by Dr. Andras Kovacs and project staff member M.Sc. Pranesh Kondamarri, who presented two contributions on the development of reconfigurable terahertz (THz) sensors based on so-called metasurfaces.
One focus of their research was the simulation and optimization of a magnetic-field-actuated, MEMS-based metasurface for THz applications. The design centered around a split-ring resonator – a key structural element – that can detect THz signals within a tunable frequency range. By varying parameters such as geometry and material, different designs were simulated and analyzed to achieve optimal sensitivity and switching behavior.
A second part of the project involved the fabrication of flexible metasurfaces using elastomer-based materials. These substrates allow the resonance frequency to be mechanically tuned – for example by bending, twisting, or stretching the structure. The researchers presented a numerical model for the design and simulation of such structures, along with initial test samples that supported the simulation data through experimental results.
Both papers are available under EUROSENSORS · AMA Science.
The research was carried out in cooperation with the West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Poland, and highlights the potential of international and interdisciplinary collaboration. Terahertz technology is a rapidly growing field with exciting application potential in wireless communication, imaging, material analysis, wearable sensors, and biomedical diagnostics – making it a highly relevant topic for students and researchers alike.
A particular highlight of the conference was the plenary lecture by French physicist and 2023 Nobel Prize winner in Physics, Prof. Anne L’Huillier. She offered fascinating insights into her current research at Lund University in Sweden, focusing on attosecond light pulses for the investigation of electron dynamics in atoms – an inspiring moment for the scientific community.