Multiplexed terahertz multifocal metalens based on stretchable single-, dual-, and quad-axis synthetic rectangular optical sparse aperture

Abstract

As ultrathin optical elements with subwavelength structures densely arranged, planar lens or called metalens can effectively focus incident wave. Due to the compact design and wide operating frequency of metalens, it becomes promising in applications like information encryption, imaging, and wireless communication fields. However, the fabrication of large-aperture metalens is still time-consuming and costly while the focusing performances are commonly tuned by introducing active materials requiring extra stimuli, such as laser and electrical pulses. In this study, five designs of metalenses with synthetic rectangular aperture are proposed and demonstrated with excellent focusing performances. By reconfiguring the synthetic aperture, focusing properties like focusing lengths, full width at half maximum values, and modulation transfer function can be tuned with great flexibility. With a polarization-dependent phase-shifting structure, the proposed metalens shows different focusing performances with incident wave under transverse magnetic field and transverse electric field modes. By utilizing spatial multiplexing, terahertz variable foci metalenses based on a stretchable single-, dual- and quad-axis synthetic rectangular optical sparse aperture are investigated to achieve tunable multifocal performances. These designs provide a novel strategy that can reconfigure the synthetic aperture with stretchable substrate to make metalens with multifunction and active tunability, which show promising applications in imaging, information encryption, and space telescope areas.