High-power laser beam shaping using a metasurface for shock excitation and focusing at the microscale

Abstract

Achieving high repeatability and efficiency in laser-induced strong shock wave excitation remains a significant technical challenge, as evidenced by the extensive efforts undertaken at large-scale national laboratories to optimize the compression of light element pellets. In this study, we propose and model a novel optical design for generating strong shocks at a tabletop scale. Our approach leverages the spatial and temporal shaping of multiple laser pulses to form concentric laser rings on condensed matter samples. Each laser ring initiates a two-dimensional focusing shock wave that overlaps and converges with preceding shock waves at a central point within the ring. We present preliminary experimental results for a single ring configuration. To enable high-power laser focusing at the micron scale, we demonstrate experimentally the feasibility of employing dielectric metasurfaces with exceptional damage threshold, experimentally determined to be 1.1 J/cm2, as replacements for conventional optics. These metasurfaces enable the creation of pristine, high-fluence laser rings essential for launching stable shock waves in materials. Herein, we showcase results obtained using a water sample, achieving shock pressures in the gigapascal (GPa) range. Our findings provide a promising pathway towards the application of laser-induced strong shock compression in condensed matter at the microscale.

Synergy between AI and Optical Metasurfaces: A Critical Overview of Recent Advances

“…Some examples of practical applications of metasurfaces proposed so far include advanced cameras [66], microscopes [67], telescopes [68] and other imaging systems, including those with super-resolution [69] (exceeding Abbe diffraction limit); contact lenses [70], virtual reality [71] and augmented reality [72] headsets and other kinds of eyewear; antireflective structures [73]; superabsorbers [74]; light concentrators [75] (achieving exceptionally large photonic densities of states that some authors call "anomalous" [76]); highly reflective metasurfaces [77]; nonreciprocal (one-way) transmission structures [78]; different metasurface-based displays (like novel OLED, LED or simple LED) [79]; different kinds of metasurface-based nanoplasmonic sensors [80] and detectors [81]; LIDAR [82]; optical data storage [83]; solar energy harvesting structures and devices [84]; light sources like laser [85] and LED [86]; micro-and nanophotolithographic systems [87] (proximity-field nanopatterning); spectroscopy [88,89]; high-power lasers for material machining [90]; lasers for medical applications [91] (including theranostics and surgery); meta-holograms [92]; holographic 3D displays [93]; fiber-optical communication systems (different optical components like optical waveguides [94], beam shapers [95] and steerers [96], multiplexers and demultiplexers [97], integrated nanophotonic components for on-chip communication [98]); and many more.…”

“…The hologram is made of in-plane nanorods with various orientations on a thin glass plate. machining [90]; lasers for medical applications [91] (including theranostics and surgery); meta-holograms [92]; holographic 3D displays [93]; fiber-optical communication systems (different optical components like optical waveguides [94], beam shapers [95] and steerers [96], multiplexers and demultiplexers [97], integrated nanophotonic components for on-chip communication [98]); and many more.…”