Orthogonal Circular Polarizations Research Articles

Ultrathin Single Layer Transmissive Dual-Band Linear to Circular Converter for Non-Adjacent Dual Orthogonal Circularly Polarized Antenna

Ultrathin Single Layer Transmissive Dual-Band Linear to Circular Converter for Non-Adjacent Dual Orthogonal Circularly Polarized Antenna

Breaking symmetry restriction of chirality through spin-decoupled phase modulation utilizing non-mirror-symmetric meta-atoms.

The geometric phase in metasurfaces follows a symmetry restriction of chirality, which dictates that the phases of two orthogonal circularly polarized waves are identical but have opposite signs. In this study, we propose a general mechanism to disrupt this symmetric restriction on the chirality of orthogonal circular polarizations by introducing mirror-symmetry-breaking meta-atoms. This mechanism introduces a new degree of freedom in spin-decoupled phase modulation without necessitating the rotation of the meta-atom. To demonstrate the feasibility of this concept, we design what we believe is a novel meta-atom with a QR-code structure and successfully showcase circular-polarization multiplexing metasurface holography. Our investigation offers what we believe to be a novel understanding of the chirality in geometric phase within the realm of nanophotonics. Moreover, it paves the way for the development of what we believe will be novel design methodologies for electromagnetic structures, enabling applications in arbitrary wavefront engineering.

Broadband plasmonic metasurface for spin-selective hologram in near-infrared band

Metasurface holography is a significant technology for the development of ultrathin optical devices. Multichannel holography has received close attention due to its applications in increasing information capacity and optical secret sharing. However, existing design methods for multichannel holography mainly focus on interleaved metasurface imaging in the vertical direction, which will inevitably suffer from the unexpected crosstalk affecting imaging quality. This work presents noninterleaved spin-selective metasurfaces by combining the geometric phase and the propagating phase. It can achieve independent phase control on two orthogonal circular polarizations and image at the desired angle. As a proof-of-concept, two broadband plasmonic metasurfaces are designed for multichannel holographic imaging in the near-infrared band (800–1200 nm). When two orthogonal circularly polarized waves are normally incident, the first plasmonic metasurface displays two different holograms in the vertical direction, thus achieving dual-channel imaging, and the second plasmonic metasurface can make two holograms deflected to the desired angle. It means that these two holograms can be displayed without overlapping for a linearly polarized wave, and the orientable three-channel holographic imaging is realized. Our work provides a general and compact scheme for multichannel orientable holographic imaging.

Single chip simultaneous chiral and achiral imaging based on high efficiency 3D plasmonic metalens

Abstract We propose and experimentally demonstrate a single chip metasurface for simultaneous chiral and achiral imaging and polarimetric detecting using a high efficiency three dimensional plasmonic metalens (3D-PM) with capability of designed separation of different circular polarizations. The proposed 3D-PM combines both propagating and geometric phases so that two orthogonal circular polarization components of the incidence can be precisely separated and imaged into two channels and the incident polarization state can be detected with differentiation of the two channels. One single set of an array of Au layer covered anisotropic polymethyl methacrylate elliptical nanopillars is employed, in which height of each nanopillar is added as a new design degree of freedom to realize both full phase manipulation (0–2π) and high efficiency (>0.85) with coupled equivalent Fabry–Pérot cavity and localized surface plasmons. At design wavelength of 1550 nm, experimental results show that optical resolution of both chiral and achiral images approaches the diffraction limit, extinction ratio of circular polarizations in two channels is ∼33:1, and the energy efficiency reaches ∼63 %. The proposed 3D-PM provides a new and simple way for chiral/achiral imaging and polarimetric measurement, and can be applied in integrated optics, optical communication, and biomolecule detection.

Full-Stokes parameters detection enabled by a non-interleaved fiber-compatible metasurface.

Polarization of the optical field determines the way of light-matter interaction, which lays the foundation for various applications such as chiral spectroscopy, biomedical imaging, and machine vision. Currently, with the rise of the metasurface, miniaturized polarization detectors have attracted extensive interest. However, due to the limitation of the working area, it is still a challenge to integrate polarization detectors on the fiber end face. Here, we propose a design of compact non-interleaved metasurface that can be integrated on the tip of a large-mode-area photonic crystal fiber (LMA-PCF) to realize full-Stokes parameters detection. Through concurrent control over the dynamic phase and Pancharatnam-Berry (PB) phase, different helical phases are assigned to the two orthogonal circular polarization bases, of which the amplitude contrast and relative phase difference can be represented by two non-overlapped foci and an interference ring pattern, respectively. Therefore, the determination of arbitrary polarization states through the proposed ultracompact fiber-compatible metasurface can be achieved. Moreover, we calculated full-Stokes parameters according to simulation results and obtained that the average detection deviation is relatively low at 2.84% for 20 elucidated samples. The novel metasurface exhibits excellent polarization detection performance and overcomes the limitation of the small integrated area, which provides insights into the further practical explorations of ultracompact polarization detection devices.

Six-channel programmable coding metasurface simultaneously for orthogonal circular and linear polarizations

Metasurfaces have intrigued long-standing research interests and developed multitudinous compelling applications owing to their unprecedented capability for manipulating electromagnetic waves, and the emerging programmable coding metasurfaces (PCMs) provide a real-time reconfigurable platform to dynamically implement customized functions. Nevertheless, most existing PCMs can only act on the single polarization state or perform in the limited polarization channel, which immensely restricts their practical application in multitask intelligent metadevices. Herein, an appealing strategy of the PCM is proposed to realize tunable functions in co-polarized reflection channels of orthogonal circularly polarized waves and in co-polarized and cross-polarized reflection channels of orthogonal linearly polarized waves from 9.0 to 10.5 GHz. In the above six channels, the spin-decoupled programmable meta-atom can achieve high-efficiency reflection and 1-bit digital phase modulation by selecting the specific ON/OFF states of two diodes, and the phase coding sequence of the PCM is dynamically regulated by the field-programmable gate array to generate the desired function. A proof-of-concept prototype is constructed to verify the feasibility of our methodology, and numerous simulation and experimental results are in excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions. This inspiring design opens a new avenue for constructing intelligent metasurfaces with higher serviceability and flexibility, and has tremendous application potential in communication, sensing, and other multifunctional smart metadevices.

Broadband and high-efficiency thermal switchable InSb metasurface for terahertz wave anomalous reflection and focusing effect

In this paper, a reflective metasurface composed of a dielectric substrate sandwiched with a double-split-ring (DSR) structure InSb and a metal ground plane was proposed in terahertz (THz) region, which can realize a high-efficient thermal switchability of circular-polarization (CP) conversion, anomalous reflection, and planar reflective focusing effect in a broadband manner. Simulation results demonstrated that the designed InSb metasurface structure can achieve high-efficient reflective CP conversion, with the magnitude of the reflected orthogonal CP wave being over 0.8 on average from 0.7 THz to 1.55 THz under the external higher thermal (T = 320 K, “On” state). Conversely, the magnitude of the reflected orthogonal CP wave is nearly zero under external lower thermal conditions (T = 240 K, “Off” state). Furthermore, the proposed InSb metasurface structure can achieve a high-efficient reflective CP conversion with an efficiency of about 0.7 under the “On” state, and a 2π phase full coverage by adjusting the oriented rotation angle (α) of the DSR structure InSb. As evidences of the concept, two InSb metasurfaces have been constructed to achieve the broadband switchable anomalous reflection phenomenon and reflective focusing effect based on Pancharatnam-Berry (PB) phase principle. The proposed metasurface has great potential in developing a dynamically tunable device for THz wavefront modulation applications in the future.

Lasing chirality control of thin-film defect-mode lasers based on cholesteric liquid crystal polymer mirrors

This work investigates the emission chirality of a chiral distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser, which is composed by incorporating an isotropic medium containing laser dye between two cholesteric liquid crystal polymer films. The emitted laser showed different ratios of circularly polarized states corresponding to different pitch numbers of the chiral mirror. Through Berreman matrix numerical calculations and experimental results, we validated the variations of the emission chirality coupling in the defect resonance mode as a function of pitch numbers, as well as the effect of the defect layer thickness on the wavelength and mode number of the emitted laser. We also observed the cone-shape emission and examined the threshold of the lasing. The results successfully demonstrated the realization of DBR laser with controllable orthogonal circular polarization ratios in the emitted laser light. These results offer considerable potential for the development of micro-laser sources with different emission chirality and wavelengths for various applications.

Polarization-Insensitive, Orthogonal Linearly Polarized and Orthogonal Circularly Polarized Synthetic Aperture Metalenses

Metalenses have attracted much attention from researchers because they are thin, multifunctional and easy to integrate. However, due to the limitation of fabrication techniques and the influence of working wavelength, it is difficult to realize a large aperture. In this paper, we design and simulate polarization-insensitive, orthogonal linearly polarized and orthogonal circularly polarized synthetic aperture metalenses. We use a synthetic aperture to improve the cutoff frequency of the metalens and achieve an equivalent large-aperture metalens. We compare the modulation transfer function and focusing efficiency of synthetic aperture metalenses with different array structures. This work provides an effective solution to the needs of large-aperture metalenses, and metalenses with different polarizations can play an important role in polarization imaging.

Longitudinal evolution from scalar to vector beams assembled from all-dielectric metasurfaces.

Vector vortex beams (VVBs) with non-uniform polarization states have a wide range of applications, from particle capture to quantum information. Here, we theoretically demonstrate a generic design for all-dielectric metasurfaces operating in the terahertz (THz) band, characterized as a longitudinal evolution from scalar vortices carrying homogeneous polarization states to inhomogeneous vector vortices with polarization singularities. The order of the converted VVBs can be arbitrarily tailored by manipulating the topological charge embedded in two orthogonal circular polarization channels. The introduction of the extended focal length and the initial phase difference effectively guarantees the smoothness of the longitudinal switchable behavior. A generic design approach based on vector-generated metasurfaces can assist in the exploration of new singular properties of THz optical fields.

Dual-Wavelength Lasing with Orthogonal Circular Polarizations Generated in a Single Layer of a Polymer–Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Superstructure

We investigate the laser emission from a polymer-cholesteric liquid crystal superstructure with coexisting opposite chiralities fabricated by refilling a right-handed polymeric scaffold with a left-handed cholesteric liquid crystalline material. The superstructure exhibits two photonic band gaps corresponding to the right- and left-circularly polarized light. By adding a suitable dye, dual-wavelength lasing with orthogonal circular polarizations is realized in this single-layer structure. The wavelength of the left-circularly polarized laser emission is thermally tunable, while the wavelength of the right-circularly polarized emission is relatively stable. Due to its relative simplicity and tunability characteristics, our design might have broad application prospects in various fields of photonics and display technology.

Generating superposed terahertz perfect vortices via a spin-multiplexed all-dielectric metasurface

Perfect optical vortices (POVs), characterized as a ring radius independent of topological charge (TC), possess extensive application in particle manipulation and optical communication. At present, the complex and bulky optical device for generating POVs has been miniaturized by leveraging the metasurface, and either spin-dependent or spin-independent POV conversions have been further accomplished. Nevertheless, it is still challenging to generate superposed POVs for incidences with orthogonal circular polarization. Here, a spin-multiplexed all-dielectric metasurface method for generating superposed POVs in the terahertz frequency range is proposed and demonstrated. By using the multiple meta-atom comprised structure as the basic unit, the complex amplitude of two superposed POVs is modulated, decoupled, and subsequently encoded to left- and right-handed circular polarization incidences. Furthermore, two kinds of metasurfaces are fabricated and characterized to validate this controlling method. It is demonstrated that the measured intensity and phase distributions match well with the calculation of the Rayleigh–Sommerfeld diffraction integral, and the radius of superposed POVs is independent of TCs. This work provides promising opportunities for developing ultracompact terahertz functional devices applied to complex structured light generation and terahertz communication, and exploring sophisticated spin angular momentum and orbital angular momentum interactions like the photonic spin-Hall effect.

Toward Arbitrary Spin‐Orbit Flat Optics Via Structured Geometric Phase Gratings

AbstractReciprocal spin‐orbit coupling (SOC) via geometric phase with flat optics provides a promising platform for shaping and controlling paraxial structured light. Current devices, from the pioneering q‐plates to the recent J‐plates, provide only spin‐dependent wavefront modulation without amplitude control. However, achieving control over all the spatial dimensions of paraxial SOC states requires spin‐dependent control of corresponding complex amplitude, which remains challenging for flat optics. Here, to address this issue, a new type of flat‐optics elements termed structured geometric phase gratings is presented, that is capable of conjugated complex‐amplitude control for orthogonal input circular polarizations. By using a microstructured liquid crystal photoalignment technique, a series of flat‐optics elements is engineered and their excellent precision in arbitrary SOC control is shown. This principle unlocks the full‐field control of paraxial structured light via flat optics, providing a promising way to develop an information exchange and processing units for general photonic SOC states, as well as extra‐/intracavity mode convertors for high‐precision laser beam shaping.

Design of a high-speed circular polarization converter with a large field of view and wavelength range.

A high-speed circular polarization converter (CPC) with a wide field of view (FOV) and wavelength range is designed and fabricated in this paper. The multi-waveplate combined structure is applied to constitute the basic configuration of the CPC for broadening the wavelength range. An electrically suppressed helix ferroelectric liquid crystal (ESHFLC) material with fast response is used as a medium for dynamic polarization operation. The compensation films are used to expand the FOV by attaching to the configuration. The simulation results demonstrate that the optimized CPC structure can achieve over 97% orthogonal circular polarization conversion efficiency in 300 nm bandwidth at a 90° viewing cone for both working states. Finally, we have experiments and the results show well consistency with the theoretical results.

K-/Ka-Band Shared-Aperture Phased Array With Wide Bandwidth and Wide Beam Coverage for LEO Satellite Communication

A K-/Ka-band shared-aperture endfire phased array antenna is presented in this article. The antenna has the properties of dual wide bandwidths, orthogonal circular polarizations (CPs), wide beam coverage, and high isolation between the K-band and Ka-band channels. In this work, a new array topology is proposed to enhance the design freedom and the periodicity of the antenna array. Then, the filtering structures used to reflect the crossband coupled power also enhance the isolation between the K-band and Ka-band channels. The crossband mutual coupling is reflected and reradiated to generate the wideband CP beams. The high-order parallel plate waveguide (PPW) mode is suppressed to realize the wide CP beam coverage. The working bands at the boresight are 17.7–21.2 and 27.5–31.0 GHz, respectively. The polarizations are right-hand CP (RHCP) in K-band and left-hand CP (LHCP) in Ka-band. The maximal scan angles are ±60°. The axial ratios (ARs) are below 3 dB at boresight and below 5 dB when the beam scans to ±60°. The isolation between the K-band and Ka-band channels is higher than 40 dB.

Double-split-ring structure based ultra-broadband and ultra-thin dual-polarization terahertz metasurface with half-reflection and half-transmission

In this paper, we propose a dual-polarization ultra-wideband metasurface with half-reflection and half-transmission based on a double-split-ring (DSR) structure operating in a terahertz (THz) frequency range. The designed metasurface can simultaneously control the circularly polarized (CP) wave and linearly polarized (LP) wave in reflection mode and transmission mode, covering an extensive THz frequency range. The unit-cell architecture of the metasurface consists of a periodic arrangement of the DSR structure made of metal, which is affixed to an ultra-thin dielectric substrate. By manipulating the size and rotation direction of the DSR structure, we achieve full phase coverage of 0–2π of the orthogonally polarized LP wave and CP wave across a frequency span of 0.3–1.2 THz, encompassing transmission and reflection scenarios. The relative bandwidths of the corresponding orthogonal LP wave and CP wave with an average amplitude of 0.45 reach 86% and 120%, respectively. Specifically, through numerical simulations, we demonstrate that the designed metasurface has the ability to achieve THz beam deflection and vortex beam generation while reflecting and transmitting LP wave and CP wave. The proposed dual-polarization ultra-wideband metasurface holds great promise for various applications in the terahertz frequency range. These findings pave the way for the development of flexible and versatile THz devices with expanded functionality, thereby opening up new possibilities for wavefront manipulation in metasurfaces.

A Compact Two-Element Linearly and Orthogonal Circularly Polarized MIMO Antenna System for 5G Cellular and WLAN/Wi-Fi 6E Application

A Compact Two-Element Linearly and Orthogonal Circularly Polarized MIMO Antenna System for 5G Cellular and WLAN/Wi-Fi 6E Application

Fourier-Domain Phase Retardation Vortex Measurement

Optical vortices have found a wide range of applications thanks to their helical phase topology allowing to carry the orbital angular momentum. In this work, self-interfering vortex beams are utilized in a new single-shot holographic method for the circular phase retardation measurement. The vortices carrying information about the phase retardation introduced between two orthogonal circular polarization modes are generated by the spin to orbital angular momentum conversion. The phase retardation is stored in off-axis holographic records acquired in a common-path setup using a geometric-phase grating. In the proposed method, the circular phase retardation is reconstructed in the Fourier domain, surpassing the measurement precision provided by methods restoring the retardation from the rotation of a Double-Helix Point Spread Function (DH PSF). The developed method can be adapted for application to polarimetry, orientation imaging and diagnostics of nano-emitters.

Temporal optical activity and chiral time-interfaces [Invited

Time-interfaces, at which the optical properties of a medium undergo abrupt and spatially uniform changes, have attracted surging interest in optics and wave physics. In this work, we study wave scattering at time-interfaces involving chiral media. Dual to spatial interfaces involving chiral media, we show that a propagating wave is split upon a chiral time-interface into two orthogonal circular polarization waves oscillating at different frequencies. We formulate the temporal scattering boundary-value problem at such time-interfaces, and then demonstrate the effect of temporal optical activity through a chiral time-slab. The effect of material dispersion is also analyzed, highlighting interesting opportunities in which multiple scattered waves emerge form the time-interface and interfere. Our results pave the way towards time-metamaterials encompassing chirality as an additional degree of freedom for wave manipulation, offering opportunities for temporal circular dichroism and negative refraction at time-interfaces.

All-graphene geometric terahertz metasurfaces for generating multi-dimensional focused vortex beams

Simultaneously assembling the functions of lenses and phase vortices into geometric metasurfaces on an ultra-compact platform can potentially be used for light trapping and edge imaging, helping to enhance their applications in polarized optical systems. Here, we propose and theoretically investigate an all-graphene geometric metasurface operating in the terahertz (THz) band for generating multidimensional vortices. Focused scalar vortex beams with polarization-independent properties can be generated by introducing the superposition of two helical phases with the same topological charge within orthogonal circularly polarized (CP) channels. Focus shift can be further tolerated by tailoring the conventional helical phase distribution. Embedding polarization modulation into the proposed design enables the generation of multiple focused vortices with inhomogeneous polarization properties in the longitudinal direction. The typical conjugate phase is capable of generating aggregated vortices with vectorial characteristics by switching the incident polarization mode, and can be extended to arbitrary orders. Using the way in which the graphene Fermi energy was changed in the simulation provides strong evidence for dynamically tuning the focusing efficiency of the generated beam. Benefiting from the proposed method that manipulates the orthogonal CP components separately, the design scheme has greater degree of freedom and can find potential applications in meta-optics, high-tolerance edge imaging, and high-capacity optical communications.