Highly tunable elastic dielectric metasurface lenses (Laser Photonics Rev. 10(6)/2016)

Abstract

Dielectric metasurfaces are two-dimensional structures composed of nano-scatterers that manipulate phase and polarization of optical waves with subwavelength spatial resolution, enabling ultra-thin components for free-space optics. While high performance devices with various functionalities, including some that are difficult to achieve using conventional optical setups have been shown, most demonstrated components have a fixed functionality. Here we demonstrate highly tunable metasurface devices based on subwavelength thick silicon nano-posts encapsulated in a thin transparent elastic polymer. As proof of concept, we demonstrate a metasurface microlens operating at 915 nm, with focal distance tuning from 600 $\mu$m to 1400 $\mu$m through radial strain, while maintaining a diffraction limited focus and a focusing efficiency above 50$\%$. The demonstrated tunable metasurface concept is highly versatile for developing ultra-slim, multi-functional and tunable optical devices with widespread applications ranging from consumer electronics to medical devices and optical communications.