Reconfigurable high-Q terahertz filtering of VO2-based metamaterials using optical tunneling

•We propose a reconfigurable terahertz band-pass filter with an ultra-high Q factor up to 273 by using the optical tunneling effects.•The filter based on the metamaterial/VO2 hybrid structure has a large modulation depth of 96.4% with two broad rejection sidebands.•By tuning the thickness of cavity layer, the filter can be designed for a series of transmission wavelengths, and further accomplish the switch between the narrow band-pass filtering and wideband reflection.