Dynamic polarization rotation and vector field steering based on phase change metasurface

Polarization rotation and vector field steering of electromagnetic wave are of great significance in modern optical applications. However, conventional polarization devices are bulky, monofunctional and lack of tunability, which pose great challenges to the miniaturized and multifunctional applications. Herein, we propose a meta-device that is capable of multi-state polarization rotation and vector field steering based on phase change metasurface. The supercell of the meta-device consists of four Ge₂Sb₂Te₅ (GST) elliptic cylinders located on a SiO₂ substrate. By independently controlling the phase state (amorphous or crystalline) of each GST elliptic cylinder, the meta-device can rotate the polarization plane of the linearly polarized incident light to different angles that cover from 19.8° to 154.9° at a wavelength of 1550 nm. Furthermore, by merely altering the phase transition state of GST elliptic cylinders, we successfully demonstrated a vector field steering by generating optical vortices carrying orbital angular momentums (OAMs) with topological charges of 0, 1 and −1, respectively. The proposed method provides a new platform for investigating dynamically tunable optical devices and has potential applications in many fields such as optical communications and information processing.     

光在Metasurface中的自旋-轨道相互作用

探讨了光在Metasurface中的自旋-轨道相互作用, 理论分析了Metasurface 对圆偏振和线偏振光的转换. 结果表明: 光与具有空间非均匀性和各向异性性的Metasurface的相互作用导致了自旋-轨道角动量的耦合. 采用Metasurface与螺旋相位片组合在一起进行了验证实验, 所得实验结果与理论分析完全一致. 这些结论有助于我们更加深入理解Metasurface 对光的操控.     

Transmission Reflection Integrated Programmable Metasurface for Real-Time Beam Control and High Efficiency Transmission Polarization Conversion

The functional versatility and flexibility of multifunctional metasurfaces are of great significance for the application of electromagnetic (EM) metasurfaces in military stealth, holographic imaging, base station antennas, and other fields. Nevertheless, the functions of active programmable coding multifunctional metasurfaces are mostly reflective or transmissive, and the research on active multifunctional metasurfaces with transmission and reflection integration is still in its infancy. Here, a transmission reflection integrated active programmable coding metasurface is proposed to manipulate the transmission and reflection of different polarized electromagnetic waves independently in real time. As a proof of concept, a metasurface that can implement diverse programmable functionalities is designed. Numerical and experimental results indicate that the strategy has excellent performance in beam control and polarization conversion, which provides tremendous potential for extending highly integrated multifunctional devices.     

Anisotropic Plasmonic Metasurfaces with Linear Polarization-Dependent Focusings

As a burgeoning approach to modulate electromagnetic waves, metasurfaces fascinate many researchers. However, it is a persistent problem to realize independent wavefront tailoring in different polarization states. In this work, anisotropic plasmonic metasurfaces are presented with linear polarization-dependent focusings. The designed plasmonic meta-atoms consist of cross-shaped gold, silica spacer, and gold substrate. Phase modulation in different polarization channels is independently achieved by adjusting the dimensions of cross-shaped gold in x- and y-directions. Three metasurfaces are presented to verify linear polarization-dependent focusings at 200 THz. First, a focusing metasurface is designed with focal lengths of 5.2 µm under x-polarized incidence and 6.5 µm under y-polarized incidence. Second, by applying convolution operation, the second metasurface exhibits different focusings with different deflection angles at opposite directions under orthogonally polarized incidences. Finally, a multi-focal metasurface is demonstrated, which switches between dual- and quad-focal points depending on polarization state. The work may provide a novel platform for near-infrared integrated photonics.     

Switchable vortex beam polarization state terahertz multi-layer metasurface

We propose a switchable vortex beam polarization state terahertz multi-layer metasurface, which consists of three-layer elliptical metal crosses, four-layer dielectrics, and two-layer hollow metal circles, which are alternately superimposed. Under the normal incidence of left-handed circularly polarized (LCP) wave and the right-handed circularly polarized (RCP) waves, the proposed structure realizes three independent control functions, i.e., focused and vortex beam, vortex beam with different topological charges, and polarization states switching, and azimuth switching of two vortex beams with different polarization states. The results show that the proposed metasurface provides a new idea for investigating the multifunctional terahertz wave modulation devices.     

Compound Vortex Metalens with Linearly Polarized Encryption

In view of the rapid development of nano-fabrication technology and the wide application of composite vortex fields, a kind of compound vortex metalens with polarization encryption is proposed. The proposed compound vortex metalens can simultaneously generate compound vortex beams with double annular strengths, unequal topological charges, and specific polarization states in different radial regions, which have the characteristic of higher dimensional singularity. The compound vortex metalens consisting of rectangular nanoholes works under linearly polarized light illumination, and the topological charges of the generated compound vortex beam can be modulated through rotating nanoholes. Simulation results and theoretical analysis verify the reliability of polarization-coded compound vortex beam metalens. The variation of polarized encrypted transmission field with the incident polarized angle shows the broader performance of polarization encryption compound vortex metalens. The multiple singularities and polarization encryption properties of the generated compound vortex beams combining with the integrated metasurface will be helpful for broadening the applications of singular beams.     

Transmissive 2-bit anisotropic coding metasurface

Coding metasurfaces have attracted tremendous interests due to unique capabilities of manipulating electromagnetic wave. However, archiving transmissive coding metasurface is still challenging. Here we propose a transmissive anisotropic coding metasurface that enables the independent control of two orthogonal polarizations. The polarization beam splitter and the orbital angular momentum (OAM) generator have been studied as typical applications of the anisotropic 2-bit coding metasurface. The simulated far field patterns illustrate that the x and y polarized electromagnetic waves are deflected into two different directions, respectively. The anisotropic coding metasurface has been experimentally verified to realize an OAM beam with l = 2 of right-handed polarized wave, resulting from both contributions from linear-to-circular polarization conversion and the phase profile modulation. This work is beneficial to enrich the polarization manipulation field and develop transmissive coding metasurfaces.     

二维宽带相位梯度超表面设计及实验验证

针对圆极化波, 通过同极化反射超表面结构单元的空间排布, 设计实现了一种二维非色散高效相位梯度超表面. 同极化反射相位可以通过同极化反射超表面结构单元金属线的面内旋转来自由调控. 实现的相位梯度超表面可对左右旋入射波产生相反的相位梯度. 当线极化波入射到超表面上时, 反射波被分为两束向相反方向传播的圆极化波. 仿真了线极化波垂直入射时的反射功率密度谱, 仿真结果与理论上设计的异常反射方向一致. 制作了厚度为2 mm的超表面样品, 测试了其镜面反射率曲线. 实验结果表明, 线极化波垂直入射时, 超表面在9.5-19.0 GHz的镜面反射率降至-5 dB以下.     

Broadband cross-circular polarization carpet cloaking based on a phase change material metasurface in the mid-infrared region

In view of the fact that most invisibility devices focus on linear polarization cloaking and that the characteristics of mid-infrared cloaking are rarely studied, we propose a cross-circularly polarized invisibility carpet cloaking device in the mid-infrared band. Based on the Pancharatnam–Berry phase principle, the unit cells with the cross-circular polarization gradient phase were carefully designed and constructed into a metasurface. In order to achieve tunable cross-circular polarization carpet cloaks, a phase change material is introduced into the design of the unit structure. When the phase change material is in amorphous and crystalline states, the proposed metasurface unit cells can achieve high-efficiency cross-polarization conversion, and reflection intensity can be tuned. According to the phase compensation principle of carpet cloaking, we construct a metasurface cloaking device with a phase gradient using the designed unit structure. From the near- and far-field distributions, the cross-circular polarization cloaking property is confirmed in the broadband wavelength range of 9.3–11.4 µm. The proposed cloaking device can effectively resist detection of cross-circular polarization.     

基于复合超构表面的宽带圆极化双功能器件设计

多功能器件的设计是推动新一代电磁系统发展的重要力量,而超构表面因其对电磁波的幅度、相位和极化等特性的灵活调控在多功能器件领域备受关注.传统的多功能超构表面是利用各向异性单元对相互正交的线极化波具有不同响应的特性,从而设计出适用于线极化的多功能器件.本文提出了一种缝隙加载的环I形复合超构表面单元,通过单元臂长和旋转角度的...     

Asymmetrical photonic spin Hall effect based on dielectric metasurfaces

The photonic spin Hall effect has attracted considerable research interest due to its potential applications in spin-controlled nanophotonic devices. However, realization of the asymmetrical photonic spin Hall effect with a single optical element is still a challenge due to the conjugation of the Pancharatnam-Berry phase, which reduces the flexibility in various applications. Here, we demonstrate an asymmetrical spin-dependent beam splitter based on a single-layer dielectric metasurface exhibiting strong and controllable optical response. The metasurface consists of an array of dielectric nanofins, where both varying rotation angles and feature sizes of the unit cells are utilized to create high-efficiency dielectric metasurfaces, which enables to break the conjugated characteristic of phase gradient. Thanks to the superiority of the phase modulation ability, when the fabricated metasurface is under normal incidence with a wavelength of 1550 nm, the left-handed circular polarization (LCP) light exhibits an anomalous refraction angle of 28.9°, while the right-handed circular polarization (RCP) light transmits directly. The method we proposed can be used for the flexible manipulation of spin photons and has potentials in high efficiency metasurfaces with versatile functionalities, especially with metasurfaces in a compact space.     

Manipulation of the overall polarization orientation in the focal volume of high numerical objectives

We propose an approach for tuning the three-dimensional polarization of a focusing subwavelength spot by a high numerical aperture objective. The incident beams are composed of a radially polarized beam, an azimuthally polarized beam, and a linearly polarized beam with three different weighting factors, respectively. A specially designed adjustable amplitude angular selector is also inserted at the back aperture of the objective for tuning the polarization azimuthally. It is shown that any desired overall polarization orientation can be obtained. We calculated the overall polarization orientation in the focal volume. It is found that the polar angle of the overall polarization orientation can be arbitrarily tuned by the combination of a radially polarized beam and a linearly polarized beam with different weighting factors, and the azimuthal angle can be tuned by rotating the orientation of the linearly polarized beam azimuthally.     

基于Metasurface的柱矢量光束的产生

本文提出了一种基于Metasurface产生任意柱矢量光束的方法.采用的Metasurface是在熔融石英上刻蚀空间变化的非周期光栅构成.非周期光栅会形成空变的有效双折射,从而对光场的偏振态空间分布进行调制.通过琼斯矩阵的方法分析得出这样的Metasurface可以将入射线偏振光转换为柱矢量光束,并且只需要改变入射线偏振光的偏振方向即可获得高阶庞加莱球赤道上任意一点的柱矢量光束.最后,用Metasurface搭建了一套简单、高效的柱矢量光束产生系统,实验结果与理论分析一致.     

宽入射角度偏振不敏感高效异常反射梯度超表面

偏振不敏感超表面在实际应用中具有重要意义, 本文提出了一种光通信波段的、对偏振不敏感的异常反射式梯度超表面, 这种超表面对于x-偏振和y-偏振入射光都能够实现高效率的异常反射, 表现出偏振不敏感特性, 为解决传统反射式超表面的偏振敏感性问题提供了一种新途径. 它采用金属(Au)-绝缘层(SiO₂)-金属(Au)结构, 超表面的超晶胞由五个各向同性的、尺寸不同的十字形基本结构单元组成. 仿真结果表明, 这种超表面结构对不同线偏振入射平面光波有几乎相同的相位和振幅响应; 合理的选取五个基本结构单元的尺寸, 在一个超晶胞内实现了2πup 相位的覆盖, 反射光波阵面畸变小, 而且反射光都集中到异常反射级次, 在工作波长1480 nm处具有较高的异常反射率(～ 70%). 此外, 这种结构的超表面在-30°–0°的宽入射角度范围内都具有偏振不敏感的异常反射特性. 在光通信、光信号处理、显示成像等领域具有潜在的应用前景.     

Multiple bottle beams based on metasurface optical field modulation and their capture of multiple atoms

Compared to conventional devices, metasurfaces offer the advantages of being lightweight, with planarization and tuning flexibility. This provides a new way to integrate and miniaturize optical systems. In this paper, a metasurface capable of generating multiple bottle beams was designed. Based on the Pancharatnam-Berry (P-B) phase principle, the metasurface lens can accurately control the wavefront by adjusting the aspect ratio of the titanium dioxide nanopillars and the rotation angle. When irradiated by left-handed circularly polarized light with a wavelength of 632.8 nm, the optical system can produce multiple micron bottle beams. Taking two bottle beams as examples, the longitudinal full widths at half-maximum of the optical tweezers can reach 0.85 μ and 1.12 μ, respectively, and the transverse full widths at half-maximum can reach 0.46 μ and 0.6 μ. Also, the number of generated bottle beams can be varied by controlling the size of the annular obstacle. By changing the x-component of the unit rotation angle, the metasurface can also change the shape of the bottle beam — the beam cross-section can be changed from circular to elliptical. This paper also analyzes the trapping of ytterbium atoms by the multi bottle beam acting as optical tweezers. It is found that the multi bottle beam can cool and trap multiple ytterbium atoms.     

单层超薄高效圆极化超表面透镜

针对超表面在透镜方面的应用, 本文设计了一种交叉极化透射聚焦超表面, 实现了将圆极化波转化为交叉极化波的同时聚焦电磁波的功能. 设计了一款旋转型单元, 单元为一层且厚度仅为1.5 mm, 分析了旋转型单元提供不同相移的原理并设计了相邻单元相移差为60°的相位梯度超表面, 在中心频率f=15 GHz附近发生奇异折射, 折射角与理论计算结果一致, 验证了设计单元的有效性, 基于该单元设计了尺寸为90 m mm×90 mm、单元数为15×15 的透射型聚焦超表面, 在中心频率f=15 GHz附近, 左旋圆极化平面波照射时, 透射波聚焦于L=40 mm 的实焦点且透射波为照射波的交叉极化波. 该超表面透镜效率高、厚度薄且为单层, 易于加工, 相对于传统透镜, 优势明显, 在操控电磁波、改善透镜性能方面有潜在应用价值.     

Ultra-wideband circular-polarization converter with micro-split Jerusalem-cross metasurfaces

An ultrathin micro-split Jerusalem-cross metasurface is proposed in this paper, which can efficiently convert the linear polarization of electromagnetic(EM) wave into the circular polarization in ultra-wideband. By symmetrically employing two micro-splits on the horizontal arm(in the x direction) of the Jerusalem-cross structure, the bandwidth of the proposed device is significantly extended. Both simulated and experimental results show that the proposed metasurface is able to convert linearly polarized waves into circularly polarized waves in a frequency range from 12.4 GHz to 21 GHz, with an axis ratio better than 1 d B. The simulated results also show that such a broadband and high-performance are maintained over a wide range of incident angle. The presented polarization converter can be used in a number of areas, such as spectroscopy and wireless communications.     

Controlling fluorescence emission by plasmonic toroidal dipolar resonance in a ring-groove metastructure

We propose a ring-groove nanostructure which can achieve toroidal dipolar resonance under normal incidence, and find that this design, due to the strong field confinement for this dipolar resonance, can simultaneously enhance the radiative decay rate and achieve high degree of linear polarization of the fluorescence emission. In addition, both radiation enhancement and degree of linear polarization are higher than those by other structure that cannot obtain toroidal dipolar resonance. It is expected that this design can promote the development of polarized light-emitting devices with enhanced emission intensity and potentially functional toroidal metasurface lasers.     

基于极化旋转超表面的圆极化天线设计

本文通过设计出一种反射型极化旋转超表面,在8—12 GHz频域内实现高效的极化旋转,并将其加载于微带缝隙天线下方构成新型的极化旋转超表面天线,利用超表面的90°极化旋转效应,成功实现了天线的圆极化辐射调制.仿真与实验结果表明:圆极化天线的中心工作频率为GHz,阻抗带宽为8.3—10 GHz.当微带缝隙天线与极化旋转超表面的间距H=4.5mm时,天线在8.3—8.8 GHz频带内实现了圆极化辐射;当mm时,天线在8.8—9.3 GHz频带内实现了圆极化辐射;当=8mm时,天线在9.3—10 GHz频带内实现了圆极化辐射.实验结果与仿真结果相符,证明了此种设计方法的有效性,也为微带缝隙天线的圆极化设计提供了一种新的途径.     

Broadband and high efficiency terahertz metasurfaces for anomalous refraction and vortex beam generation

The applications of metasurfaces are currently a highly active research field due to their extraordinary ability to manipulate electromagnetic waves. The ultra-thin characteristics of metasurfaces allow the miniaturization and integration of metasurface devices. However, these devices work typically under a low efficiency and narrow bandwidth condition. In this work, we design eight multilayered unit cells with similar amplitudes and a phase interval of π/4, which convert the polarization states of the terahertz (THz) waves between two orthogonal directions. The average cross-polarized transmission amplitudes of these cells are all around 0.9 in an ultra-broad frequency range from 0.5 THz to 1.4 THz. Furthermore, unit cells are used to construct both an ultra-thin anomalous refraction metalens and a vortex phase plate. Our simulation results show that the anomalous refraction for the transmitted linear polarization component is comparable to the theoretical prediction, and the maximum error is determined to be below 4.8%. The vortex phase plate can also generate an ideal terahertz vortex beam with a mode purity of 90% and more. The distributions of longitudinal electric field, intensity, and phase illustrate that the generated vortex beam has excellent propagation characteristics and a weak divergence. Simulations of the two types of metasurface devices, based on the eight unit cells, exhibit very high efficiencies in a wide bandwidth. Our research will assist in the improvement in the practical applications of metasurfaces. It also provides a reference for the design of high efficiency and broadband devices that are applied to other frequency ranges.