Abstract
There has been substantial interest in miniaturizing optical systems by flat optics. However, one essential optical component, free space, fundamentally cannot be substituted with conventional local flat optics with space-dependent transfer functions, since the transfer function of free space is momentum-dependent instead. Overcoming this difficulty is important to achieve the utmost miniaturization of optical systems. In this work, we show that free space can be substituted with nonlocal flat optics operating directly in the momentum domain. We derive the general criteria for an optical device to replace free space and provide two concrete designs of photonic crystal slab devices. Such devices can substitute much thicker free space. Our work paves the way for the utmost miniaturization of optical systems using a combination of local and nonlocal flat optics.
Highlights
There has been significant progress in flat optics aiming to miniaturize optical systems by replacing conventional optical components [1,2,3,4]
We show that free space can be substituted with nonlocal flat optics operating directly in the momentum domain
Our work paves the way for utmost miniaturization of optical systems using combination of local and nonlocal flat optics
Summary
There has been significant progress in flat optics aiming to miniaturize optical systems by replacing conventional optical components [1,2,3,4] Such flat optics typically achieves wavefront shaping through local control of phase, amplitude and polarization in the spatial domain. Recently there has been significant interest in lensless Fourier optics using nonlocal photonic nanostructures with tranfer functions in the momentum domain This approach enables important functionalities in optical analog processing including optical differentiation and filtering using compact devices [6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
