On-chip meta-optics for semi-transparent screen display in sync with AR projection

Abstract

On-chip integrated meta-optics could enable high-performance, lightweight, and compact integrated photonic devices for augmented reality (AR). Despite previous endeavors in controlling guided waves for holographic phase control, such devices lack versatile performance with the full optical controllability in both amplitude and phase needed to generate multi-functional displays. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate an on-chip metasurface integrated on a waveguide to enable a multiplexing semi-transparent screen display in sync with an AR holographic display for human eyes. Through judicious engineering of on-chip meta-diatom displacement and interference at the nanoscale, we can locally modulate the on-chip optical scattering intensities to create a semi-transparent screen display. More intriguingly, we can project a simultaneous dual-channel AR holographic display by incorporating independent encoding freedom of its detour phase. Beyond the all-dielectric properties and high transparency, the projected AR images are free of zeroth-order diffraction interference due to the on-chip optical propagation scheme. We envision that the proposed on-chip meta-optic display could be readily applied to next-generation wearable AR displays, multiplexing optical displays, colored signage, information storage/encryption, and cosmetic visual applications.