Spin‐Controlled Integrated Near‐ and Far‐Field Optical Launcher

Abstract

With the evergrowing demand for miniaturization of photonic devices, the integration of different functionalities in a single module is highly desired for the next generation of ultracompact photonic devices. Optical modules based on the near field and scattered far field are both key elements in the construction of nanophotonic devices. However, integrating the near‐ and far‐field functionalities into a single module is a great challenge, which hinders the integration and minimization of optical devices. Here, a bifunctional integrated near‐ and far‐field optical launcher with a single metasurface structure is theoretically proposed and experimentally demonstrated, where the unidirectional launching of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) and the focusing of scattered far fields can be simultaneously achieved. Moreover, the SPP propagating direction and the real/virtual focus of the far‐field scattering can be actively controlled by the spin state of the incident light. With the additional degree of freedom provided by the positions of the metasurface elements, the optical performances of this bifunctional structure can be compared to the one with single functionality. The work provides a new platform for the integration and control of different optical components at subwavelength scale, and opens a way to design multifunctional optical devices for the future.

High-Efficiency, Broadband, Near Diffraction-Limited, Dielectric Metalens in Ultraviolet Spectrum

“…Metasurfaces have stirred up a spree of research interest in recent years due to their brilliant performance in the field of electromagnetic wave manipulation [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. Metasurfaces are based on some well-designed subwavelength scale arrays of resonators to manipulate the amplitude, phase, propagation direction, and polarization of light to nanoscale resolution at an ease [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19], making them an appropriate option for miniaturization and integration of photonic systems.…”

“…Metasurfaces are based on some well-designed subwavelength scale arrays of resonators to manipulate the amplitude, phase, propagation direction, and polarization of light to nanoscale resolution at an ease [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19], making them an appropriate option for miniaturization and integration of photonic systems. Currently, metasurfaces are being applied to various applications, such as metalenses [20], holograms [21,22], cloaking [23,24], surface plasmon launcher [4], nonlinear devices [3,11,[25][26][27][28], bio sensing [26,27], computing [11,28], switching [5,29], and various novel photonic systems and devices [30][31][32][33][34]. Among these, metalenses are a stirring and significant research direction and application of metasurfaces since they not only outperform the optical properties but are also far smaller and ultrathin comparing to the conventional expensive and bulky optical lenses [35].…”

Polarization Controlled Dual Functional Reflective Planar Metalens in Near Infrared Regime

“…Lots of models like the nanoslit [17], nanohole [18,19], and graphene ribbons [20][21][22][23][24] have been introduced in metalens design, where 2π phase shift resulting from the designed antennas is needed in controlling the wavefront. Although a polarization-independent metalens [12,25] and polarization-conversion metalens [26] have been reported in former works, and the designed metalenses are always adjusted to manipulate different kinds of incident waves with various structures [27][28][29][30], the metalens, with its function controlled by incident polarization state [31,32], has not been fully investigated.…”

All-metallic wide-angle metasurfaces for multifunctional polarization manipulation

“…Since the Brewster effect is an interface phenomenon, any modification of the surface conditions would change the light behavior. When a metasurface consisting of periodic or quasi-periodic subwavelength inclusions is inserted at the interface [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] , the Fresnel equations can be generalized to change the reflection, refraction properties on demand 13 .…”