Optical Metasurfaces Research Articles

Robust intrinsic chirality empowered by pair of off-Γ accidental BICs in triangular lattice metasurface

Abstract Optical chiral metasurfaces with high-quality factor enhance light-matter interactions. However, intrinsic chirality based on breaking the symmetry-protected BIC hardly reveals strong circular dichroism (CD) against structural perturbations. Here, we propose a design of the intrinsic chirality empowered by a pair of off-Γ accidental BICs and demonstrate a robust intrinsic chiroptical response continuously exhibiting strong and sign-controllable transmitted CD up to 0.98 and stable high-quality factors under a wide range of perturbations of geometrical parameters. A triangular lattice with slant T-shaped meta-atom is employed to break all mirror symmetries. The at-Γ quality factor of the chiral resonance is enhanced by four C points and maintains in the range of 105 to 106. Our work is beneficial for designing chiral metasurfaces with a strong intrinsic chirality.

Electrochemically mutable soft metasurfaces.

Active optical metasurfaces, capable of dynamically manipulating light in ultrathin form factors, enable novel interfaces between humans and technology. In such interfaces, soft materials bring many advantages based on their flexibility, compliance and large stimulus-driven responses. Here, we create electrochemically mutable, soft metasurfaces that capitalize on the swelling of soft conducting polymers to alter the shape and associated resonant response of metasurface elements. Such geometric tuning overcomes the typical trade-off between achieving substantial tuning and low optical loss that is intrinsic to dynamic metasurfaces relying on index tuning of materials. Using the commercial polymer PEDOT:PSS, we demonstrate dynamic, high-resolution colour tuning and high-diffraction-efficiency (>19%) beam-steering devices that operate at CMOS-compatible voltages (~1.5 V). These results highlight how the deformability of soft materials can enable a class of high-performance metasurfaces that are suitable for body-worn technologies.

MEMS-tunable topological bilayer metasurfaces for reconfigurable dual-state phase control

Tunable optical metasurfaces (MSs) have demonstrated exceptional capabilities in actively manipulating light fields. However, most existing tunable MSs are limited to controlling only one functionality. Here, by combining a MEMS mirror with a plasmonic bilayer MS (BMS), we develop an electrically driven MEMS-BMS platform enabling complete reflection phase transformation and switching between two encoded functionalities by actuating the MEMS mirror. This capability stems from different optical responses of each MS layer at distinct MEMS-BMS separations, due to evolving topological singularities in a defined parameter space. With this tunable topological MEMS-BMS platform, we demonstrate polarization-independent MEMS-BMS for reconfigurable diffraction gratings, achieving ∼25% efficiency, ∼0.75 contrast at 850-nm wavelength, and fast response (∼5µs). The MEMS-BMS arrangement for generating vortex beams with switchable topological charges of ±1 is also demonstrated, evidenced by distinct near- and far-field interferograms. Our work expands the scope of tunable MSs by exploiting dynamic topological phases in the MEMS-BMS arrangement, paving the way for multifunctional tunable meta-optics.

Ultrafast Modulation of a Nonlocal Semiconductor Metasurface under Spatially Selective Optical Pumping.

Time-varying optical metasurfaces have attracted significant research attention for their ability to dynamically modulate the spectral characteristics of light and achieve effects not possible in static systems. Nonlocal metasurfaces, with their spatially extended resonant modes, have the potential to further expand these capabilities by enabling spatially selective modulation. Here, we experimentally explore the application of spatially structured femtosecond laser pumping to modulate a leaky guided mode in a semiconductor metasurface. Using angle-resolved transient transmission spectroscopy, we study the dynamic response of the system across a range of wavelengths and angles of incidence, observing frequency and momentum conversion. When the pumping location is varied, this technique allows for reconstructing the temporal dynamics of the probe pulse propagating in the metasurface mode. Our results not only demonstrate a versatile toolkit for spatiotemporal light control but also provide fundamental insight into the excitation of spatially extended modes in nonlocal metasurfaces.

Global Selection Rules and Giant Enhanced Harmonic Generations in LiNbO3 Nonlinear Meta‐Optics

AbstractNonlinear optical metasurfaces provide nanoscale‐level control of harmonic waves, making them highly promising platforms for both fundamental research and applications in nonlinear optics. However, the traditional selection rules theory, which has long served as a guiding principle for nonlinear meta‐optics, is local and neglects the significance of meta‐atomic lattice symmetry. In addition, achieving high‐efficiency harmonic generation along with nonlinear optical Pancharatnam‐Berry (PB) phase control remains challenging. To this end, a novel global selection rule jointly determined by the symmetries of both meta‐atom and lattice is proposed. Nonlinear metasurfaces designed based on this theory enable frequency conversions forbidden by previous local selection rules. A more comprehensive relationship between the nonlinear PB phase and the meta‐atomic rotation angle is revealed. Moreover, an efficient nonlinear PB metasurface platform for second harmonic generations is first demonstrated using LiNbO3 thin films with aligned crystal orientations in a hybrid design. The normalized conversion efficiency reaches approximately two orders of magnitude higher than that of existing nonlinear PB metasurfaces working in the near‐infrared band. These findings not only shed light on the underlying mechanisms of nonlinear light‐matter interactions, but also open up exciting possibilities in terahertz, entangled photon pairs, and high harmonic generations.

A Review: Phase Measurement Techniques Based on Metasurfaces

Phase carries crucial information about the light propagation process, and the visualization and quantitative measurement of phase have important applications, ranging from ultra-precision metrology to biomedical imaging. Traditional phase measurement techniques typically require large and complex optical systems, limiting their applicability in various scenarios. Optical metasurfaces, as flat optical elements, offer a novel approach to phase measurement by manipulating light at the nanoscale through light-matter interactions. Metasurfaces are advantageous due to their lightweight, multifunctional, and easy-to-integrate nature, providing new possibilities for simplifying traditional phase measurement methods. This review categorizes phase measurement techniques into quantitative and non-quantitative methods and reviews the advancements in metasurface-based phase measurement technologies. Detailed discussions are provided on several methods, including vortex phase contrast, holographic interferometry, shearing interferometry, the Transport of Intensity Equation (TIE), and wavefront sensing. The advantages and limitations of metasurfaces in phase measurement are highlighted, and future research directions are explored.

Research on Drug Efficacy using a Terahertz Metasurface Microfluidic Biosensor Based on Fano Resonance Effect.

Advanced biosensors must exhibit high sensitivity, reliability, and convenience, making them suitable for detecting trace samples in biological or medical applications. Currently, biometric identification is the predominant method in clinical practice, but it is complex and time-consuming. In this study, we propose an optical metasurface utilizing the Fano resonance effect, which exhibits a sharp resonance with a transmittance of 32% at 0.65 THz. The resonance dip has a narrow bandwidth of 0.07 THz and a high Q-factor of 42. This resonance arises from the coupling of bright and dark modes, underpinned by the electromagnetic mechanism of Fano resonance. We integrated the metasurface into a microfluidic platform and fabricated low-temperature gallium arsenide photoconductive antennas (LT-GaAs-PCAs) on both sides of the microfluidics to efficiently generate and detect THz waves, significantly reducing the system's volume. The biosensor's detection limits for Escherichia coli (E. coli) and cefamandole nafate are 5 × 103 cells/mL and 5 μg/mL, respectively. Experimentally, when E. coli and cefamandole nafate solutions were sequentially injected into the microfluidic chip, a blue shift in the spectrum was observed. The sensor measured a 95.2% killing rate of E. coli by 40 μg/mL cefamandole nafate solution, with only a 3% deviation from biological experiments. Additionally, a timed killing experiment using 40 μg/mL cefamandole nafate on E. coli revealed a 93.7% killing rate within 3 min. This research presents a THz microfluidic biosensor with rapid detection, high sensitivity, and enhanced portability and integration, offering a promising approach for biomedical research, including antibiotic efficacy assessment and bacterial concentration monitoring.

Research on sensing characteristics of high Q-factor all-dielectric metasurfaces based on geometric breaking

The bound states in the continuum (BIC) are widely used in designing metamaterials with high quality factor (Q-factor) resonances due to their perfect localization in the continuous spectral range coexisting with expanding waves. In this study, a T-shaped nanohole all-dielectric metasurface structure is proposed based on the unique electromagnetic properties of all-dielectric metasurfaces, and the fundamental reason of its coupled state and the theoretical basis of BIC excitation are deeply investigated based on the theory of group theory, and the geometric symmetry is broken from multiple angles, and the coupling relationship between discrete eigenmodes and the external continuum is specifically analyzed during the change of symmetry, its spectral response and near-field distribution are numerically calculated. In addition, based on the modulation mechanism of the incident light polarization angle, the three-channel resonance tuning with two resonances of the same frequency and one of a different frequency is realized under the condition that the resonance position and the Q-factor are not affected. This study not only provides a theoretical basis for the excitation conditions and evolution regularity of symmetry-protected BIC, but also solves the problem in the traditional analysis of resonance phenomena without taking the high Q-factor and stability into account, which can provide new designing methods for optical metasurface devices with multi-channel resonance.

A Flexible and Optical Transparent Metasurface Absorber with Broadband RCS Reduction Characteristics.

Metasurface absorbers (MSAs) are of significant importance in a wide range of applications, such as in the field of stealth technology. Nevertheless, conventional designs demonstrate limited flexible characteristics and a lack of transparency, hence constraining their suitability for certain radar stealth applications. This study introduces a novel MSA operating in the broad microwave range, which exhibits both optical transparency and flexibility. The structure consists of a flexible substrate made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), along with a resistive film composed of indium tin oxide (ITO). The proposed structure exhibits the ability to effectively absorb over 90% of the energy carried by incident electromagnetic (EM) waves across the frequency range of 9.85-41.76 GHz within an angular range of 0° to 60°. In addition, to assess the efficacy of the absorption performance, an examination of the radar cross-section (RCS) characteristics is conducted. The results indicate a reduction of over 10 dB across the aforementioned broad frequency spectrum, regardless of the central angle.

Bidirectional Vectorial Holography Using Bi-Layer Metasurfaces and Its Application to Optical Encryption.

The field of optical systems with asymmetric responses has grown significantly due to their various potential applications. Janus metasurfaces are noteworthy for their ability to control light asymmetrically at the pixel level within thin films. However, previous demonstrations are restricted to the partial control of asymmetric transmission for a limited set of input polarizations, focusing primarily on scalar functionalities. Here, optical bi-layer metasurfaces that achieve a fully generalized form of asymmetric transmission for any input polarization are presented. The designs owe much to the theoretical model of asymmetric transmission in reciprocal systems, which elucidates the relationship between front- and back-side Jones matrices in general cases. This model reveals a fundamental correlation between the polarization-direction channels of opposing sides. To circumvent this constraint, partitioning the transmission space is utilizedto realize four distinct vector functionalities within the target volume. As a proof of concept, polarization-direction-multiplexed Janus vectorial holograms generating four vectorial holographic images are experimentally demonstrated. When integrated with computational vector polarizer arrays, this approach enables optical encryption with a high level of obscurity. The proposedmathematical framework and novel material systems for generalized asymmetric transmission may pave the way for applications such as optical computation, sensing, and imaging.

Electronically configurable microscopic metasheet robots.

Shape morphing is vital to locomotion in microscopic organisms but has been challenging to achieve in sub-millimetre robots. By overcoming obstacles associated with miniaturization, we demonstrate microscopic electronically configurable morphing metasheet robots. These metabots expand locally using a kirigami structure spanning five decades in length, from 10 nm electrochemically actuated hinges to 100 μm splaying panels making up the ~1 mm robot. The panels are organized into unit cells that can expand and contract by 40% within 100 ms. These units are tiled to create metasheets with over 200 hinges and independent electronically actuating regions that enable the robot to switch between multiple target geometries with distinct curvature distributions. By electronically actuating independent regions with prescribed phase delays, we generate locomotory gaits. These results advance a metamaterial paradigm for microscopic, continuum, compliant, programmable robots and pave the way to a broad spectrum of applications, including reconfigurable micromachines, tunable optical metasurfaces and miniaturized biomedical devices.

Meta-Attention Deep Learning for Smart Development of Metasurface Sensors.

Optical metasurfaces with pronounced spectral characteristics are promising for sensor applications. Currently, deep learning (DL) offers a rapid manner to design various metasurfaces. However, conventional DL models are usually assumed as black boxes, which is difficult to explain how a DL model learns physical features, and they usually predict optical responses of metasurfaces in a fuzzy way. This makes them incapable of capturing critical spectral features precisely, such as high quality (Q) resonances, and hinders their use in designing metasurface sensors. Here, a transformer-based explainable DL model named Metaformer for the high-intelligence design, which adopts a spectrum-splitting scheme to elevate 99% prediction accuracy through reducing 99% training parameters, is established. Based on the Metaformer, all-dielectric metasurfaces based on quasi-bound states in the continuum (Q-BIC)for high-performance metasensing are designed, and fabrication experiments are guided potently. The explainable learning relies on spectral position encoding and multi-head attention of meta-optics features, which overwhelms traditional black-box models dramatically. The meta-attention mechanism provides deep physics insights on metasurface sensors, and will inspire more powerful DL design applications on other optical devices.

Polycrystalline methylammonium-lead bromide perovskite films for photonic metasurfaces

Polycrystalline films of organo-inorganic perovskite semiconductors are promising as a foundation for creating functional optical metasurfaces. The requirements for film structural perfection, thickness uniformity, and defect-free characteristics are much more stringent compared to perovskite films for photovoltaics. This work presents the results of searching for optimal conditions for one-step synthesis of lead methylammonium bromide films using centrifugation, and describes the successful fabrication of subwavelength optical gratings from these films through focused ion beam processing. The measured spectra of light transmission through the gratings demonstrated their excellent optical quality and confirmed the possibility of creating semiconductor photon metasurfaces with submicrometer periodicity and high-Q dielectric resonances.

Multifaceted control of focal points along an arbitrary 3D curved trajectory

Metalenses can integrate the functionalities of multiple optical components thanks to the unprecedented capability of optical metasurfaces in light control. With the rapid development of optical metasurfaces, metalenses continue to evolve. Polarization and color play a very important role in understanding optics and serve as valuable tools for gaining insights into our world. Benefiting from the design flexibility of metasurfaces, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a super metalens that can realize multifaceted control of focal points along any 3D curved trajectory. The wavelengths and polarization states of all focal points are engineered in a desirable manner. The super metalens can simultaneously realize customized 3D positioning, polarization states, and wavelengths of focal points, which are experimentally demonstrated with incident wavelengths ranging from 501 to 700 nm. We further showcase the application of the developed super metalenses in 3D optical distance measurement. The compact nature of metasurfaces and unique properties of the proposed super metalenses hold promise to dramatically miniaturize and simplify the optical architecture for applications in optical metrology, imaging, detection, and security.

Multifunctional FFP2 Face Mask for White Light Disinfection and Pathogens Detection using Hybrid Nanostructures and Optical Metasurfaces.

A new generation of an FFP2 (Filtering Face Piece of type 2) smart face mask is achieved by integrating broadband hybrid nanomaterials and a self-assembled optical metasurface. The multifunctional FFP2 face mask shows simultaneously white light-assisted on-demand disinfection properties and versatile biosensing capabilities. These properties are achieved by a powerful combination of white light thermoplasmonic responsive hybrid nanomaterials, which provide excellent photo-thermal disinfection properties, and optical metasurface-based colorimetric biosensors, with a very low limit of pathogens detection. The realized system is studied in optical, morphological, spectroscopic, and cell viability assay experiments and environmental monitoring of harmful pathogens, thus highlighting the extraordinary properties in reusability and pathogens detection of the innovative face mask.

Optical analog computing for salient object detection in complex scenes via dielectric metasurface

Optical analog computing overcomes the throughput and computational speed limitations of traditional digital computing, facilitating salient object detection on platforms that rapidly process massive image data, such as optical remote sensing. Further device miniaturization and integration can be achieved by replacing filters in optical analog computing with metasurface. Based on the combination of optical analog computing and dielectric metasurface, we proposed an optical analog cross-correlation operation operating in the mid-infrared wavelength band to achieve the real-time and compact salient object detection. Even in extremely complex scenes, this cross-correlation operation can be used to identify and segment target patterns based on several target features accurately. The proposed optical analog cross-correlation operation may find applications in object tracking, medical image segmentation, and person re-identification.

Achieving Optical Refractive Index of 10-Plus by Colloidal Self-Assembly.

This study demonstrates the developments of self-assembled optical metasurfaces to overcome inherent limitations in polarization density (P) and high refractive indices (n) within naturally occurring materials. The Maxwellian macroscopic description establishes a link between P and n, revealing a static limit in natural materials, restricting n to ≈4.0 at optical frequencies. Previously, it is accepted that self-assembly enables the creation of nanogaps between metallic nanoparticles (NPs), boosting capacitive enhancement of P and resultant exceptionally high n at optical frequencies. The work focuses on assembling gold (Au) NPs into a closely packed monolayer by rationally designing the polymeric ligand to balance attractive and repulsive forces, in that polymeric brush-mediated self-assembly of the close-packed Au NP monolayer is robustly achieved over a large-area. The resulting monolayer of Au nanospheres (NSs), nanooctahedras (NOs), and nanocubes (NCs) exhibits high macroscopic integrity and crystallinity, sufficiently enough for pushing n to record-high regimes. The systematic comparisons between each differently shaped Au NP monolayers elucidate the significance of capacitive coupling in achieving an unnaturally high n. The achieved n of 10.12 at optical frequencies stands as a benchmark, highlighting the potential of polyhedral Au NPs in advancing optical metasurfaces.

Chiral Emission from Optical Metasurfaces and Metacavities

Chiral emission exhibiting a large degree of circular polarization (DCP) is important in diverse applications ranging from displays and optical storage to optical communication, bioimaging, and medical diagnostics. Although chiral luminescent materials can generate chiral emissions directly, they frequently suffer from either low DCP or low quantum efficiencies. Achieving high DCP and quantum efficiencies simultaneously remains extremely challenging. This review introduces an alternative approach to chiral emission. Chiral emission with large DCP can be readily achieved by combining conventional achiral emitters with chiral metasurfaces. Particularly, this article focuses on recent experimental and theoretical studies on perovskite metasurfaces and metacavities that employ achiral perovskite materials. First, chiral photoluminescence from extrinsic and intrinsic perovskite metasurfaces is explained together with theoretical discussions on metasurface design based on reciprocity and critical coupling. Chiral photoluminescence from other achiral materials is also explained. Subsequently, chiral electroluminescence from perovskite metacavities and other achiral materials is discussed. Finally, it is concluded with future perspectives. This review provides physical insights into how ideal chiral emission can be realized by optimizing the design of metasurfaces and metacavities. Compact chiral light sources with both near‐unity DCP and strong emission intensities can have far‐reaching consequences in a wide range of future applications.

Polarization control of lasing from few-layer MoTe2 coupled with the optical metasurface supporting quasi-trapped modes

The development of technology for integrating optical metaresonators with two-dimensional and layered van der Waals (vdW) materials opens up broad prospects for the creation of subdiffraction concentrators of electromagnetic energy, surface-emitting lasers, laser displays, and highly efficient nonlinear converters. In this work, we develop a straightforward strategy for the design and fabrication of surface-emitting laser devices based on few-layer transition metal dichalcogenides placed on the dielectric metasurfaces in the regime of quasi-trapped mode excitation. We optimize the parameters of MoTe2 flake and Si metasurface to achieve a positive feedback and to observe the lasing, resulting from their integration, with the predicted characteristics. Promising potential for the development of vdW-metalaser platform is associated with the possibility of simple polarization control of lasing regimes by employing the features of the bianisotropic response of the metasurface's building blocks.

An Electrochemically Programmable Metasurface with Independently Controlled Metasurface Pixels at Optical Frequencies.

Metasurfaces have revolutionized optical technologies by offering powerful, compact, and versatile solutions to control light. Conducting polymers, characterized by their conjugated molecular structures, facilitate charge transport and exhibit interesting electrical, optical, and mechanical properties. Integrating conducting polymers with optical metasurfaces can unlock new opportunities and functionalities in modern optics. In this work, we demonstrate an electrochemically programmable metasurface with independently controlled metasurface pixels at optical frequencies. Electrochemical modulation of locally conjugated polyaniline on gold nanorods, which are arranged on addressable electrodes according to the Pancharatnam-Berry phase design, enables dynamic control over the metasurface pixels into programmable configurations. With the same metasurface device, we showcase diverse optical functions, including dynamic beam diffraction and varifocal lensing along and off the optical axis. The synergy between flat optics and conducting polymer science holds immense potential to enhance the performance and function versatility of metasurfaces, paving the way for innovative optical applications.