Tunable Metasurfaces: The Path to Fully Active Nanophotonics
16 Jul 2021-Vol. 2, Iss: 9, pp 2000205
About: The article was published on 2021-07-16 and is currently open access. It has received 49 citations till now.
Citations
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TL;DR: In this paper , a simple asymmetric spin-orbit interaction (SOI)-based technique is realized for multifunctional metaoptics, employing only a single unit cell, breaking the conventional tradeoff between design complexity and efficient asymmetric transmission efficiency.
Abstract: Symmetric spin–orbit interaction (SOI)‐based approaches apply a practical limit on helicity multiplexed metaoptics, i.e., center symmetric information encoding. Contrarily, asymmetric SOI's based on the combination of geometric and propagation phase‐delay approaches can effectively address such limitations for multifunctional multiplexed metaoptics on the cost of design complexities. In this paper, a simple asymmetric SOI‐based technique is realized for multifunctional metaoptics, employing only a single unit cell, breaking the conventional tradeoff between design complexity and efficient asymmetric transmission efficiency. The design approach depends on geometric phase alone, which eases the fabrication challenges and decreases the computational cost associated with previous asymmetric SOI‐based metaoptics. Furthermore, this study utilizes a new, low‐cost CMOS‐compatible material to optimize the proposed single unit cell for low loss and high transmission efficiency over the complete visible domain. On‐axis and off‐axis holographic metasurfaces are designed and integrated with pressure‐sensitive liquid crystal cells to demonstrate actively tunable metaholography with no limitation of center symmetric information encoding. The simple design technique, cost‐effective fabrication, and finger touch‐enabled holographic output switching make this integrated setup a potential candidate for many applications such as smart safety labeling, motion or touch recognition, and interactive displays for impact monitoring of precious artworks and products.
66 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, an electrically controllable bifocal metalens at visible wavelengths by incorporating a metasurface designed to focus light at two different focal lengths, with liquid crystals to actively manipulate the focal length of the metalens through the application of an external bias.
Abstract: Tunable optical devices powered by metasurfaces provide a new path for functional planar optics. In particular, lenses with tunable focal lengths can play a key role in various fields with applications in imaging, displays, and augmented and virtual reality devices. Here, the authors demonstrate an electrically controllable bifocal metalens at visible wavelengths by incorporating a metasurface designed to focus light at two different focal lengths, with liquid crystals to actively manipulate the focal length of the metalens through the application of an external bias. By utilizing hydrogenated amorphous silicon that is optimized to provide an extremely low extinction coefficient in the visible regime, the metalens is highly efficient with measured focusing efficiencies of around 44%. They numerically design and experimentally realize and characterize tunable focusing and demonstrate electrically tunable active imaging at visible wavelengths using the bifocal metalens combined with liquid crystals. Diffraction limited focusing and imaging is verified through the analysis of the measured optical intensities at the focal points and the modulation transfer function. The bifocal metalens is used to demonstrate electrically modulated focus switching between the two designed focal planes, to display images of positive and negative target objects.
62 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , an electrically tunable metasurface that can represent saturated red, green, and blue pixels that can be dynamically and continuously controlled between on and off states using liquid crystals is presented.
Abstract: Abstract Taking inspiration from beautiful colors in nature, structural colors produced from nanostructured metasurfaces have shown great promise as a platform for bright, highly saturated, and high-resolution colors. Both plasmonic and dielectric materials have been employed to produce static colors that fulfil the required criteria for high-performance color printing, however, for practical applications in dynamic situations, a form of tunability is desirable. Combinations of the additive color palette of red, green, and blue enable the expression of further colors beyond the three primary colors, while the simultaneous intensity modulation allows access to the full color gamut. Here, we demonstrate an electrically tunable metasurface that can represent saturated red, green, and blue pixels that can be dynamically and continuously controlled between on and off states using liquid crystals. We use this to experimentally realize ultrahigh-resolution color printing, active multicolor cryptographic applications, and tunable pixels toward high-performance full-color reflective displays.
51 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , an electrically tunable metasurface that can represent saturated red, green, and blue pixels that can be dynamically and continuously controlled between on and off states using liquid crystals is presented.
Abstract: Abstract Taking inspiration from beautiful colors in nature, structural colors produced from nanostructured metasurfaces have shown great promise as a platform for bright, highly saturated, and high-resolution colors. Both plasmonic and dielectric materials have been employed to produce static colors that fulfil the required criteria for high-performance color printing, however, for practical applications in dynamic situations, a form of tunability is desirable. Combinations of the additive color palette of red, green, and blue enable the expression of further colors beyond the three primary colors, while the simultaneous intensity modulation allows access to the full color gamut. Here, we demonstrate an electrically tunable metasurface that can represent saturated red, green, and blue pixels that can be dynamically and continuously controlled between on and off states using liquid crystals. We use this to experimentally realize ultrahigh-resolution color printing, active multicolor cryptographic applications, and tunable pixels toward high-performance full-color reflective displays.
45 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors present the recent progress on tunable metasurfaces focused on metalenses and metaholograms, including the basic working principles, advantages, and disadvantages of each working mechanism.
Abstract: Abstract. Metasurfaces have attracted great attention due to their ability to manipulate the phase, amplitude, and polarization of light in a compact form. Tunable metasurfaces have been investigated recently through the integration with mechanically moving components and electrically tunable elements. Two interesting applications, in particular, are to vary the focal point of metalenses and to switch between holographic images. We present the recent progress on tunable metasurfaces focused on metalenses and metaholograms, including the basic working principles, advantages, and disadvantages of each working mechanism. We classify the tunable stimuli based on the light source and electrical bias, as well as others such as thermal and mechanical modulation. We conclude by summarizing the recent progress of metalenses and metaholograms, and providing our perspectives for the further development of tunable metasurfaces.
34 citations
References
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TL;DR: This work shows how electromagnetic fields can be redirected at will and proposes a design strategy that has relevance to exotic lens design and to the cloaking of objects from electromagnetic fields.
Abstract: Using the freedom of design that metamaterials provide, we show how electromagnetic fields can be redirected at will and propose a design strategy. The conserved fields-electric displacement field D, magnetic induction field B, and Poynting vector B-are all displaced in a consistent manner. A simple illustration is given of the cloaking of a proscribed volume of space to exclude completely all electromagnetic fields. Our work has relevance to exotic lens design and to the cloaking of objects from electromagnetic fields.
7,811 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a two-dimensional array of optical resonators with spatially varying phase response and subwavelength separation can imprint phase discontinuities on propagating light as it traverses the interface between two media.
Abstract: Conventional optical components rely on gradual phase shifts accumulated during light propagation to shape light beams. New degrees of freedom are attained by introducing abrupt phase changes over the scale of the wavelength. A two-dimensional array of optical resonators with spatially varying phase response and subwavelength separation can imprint such phase discontinuities on propagating light as it traverses the interface between two media. Anomalous reflection and refraction phenomena are observed in this regime in optically thin arrays of metallic antennas on silicon with a linear phase variation along the interface, which are in excellent agreement with generalized laws derived from Fermat’s principle. Phase discontinuities provide great flexibility in the design of light beams, as illustrated by the generation of optical vortices through use of planar designer metallic interfaces.
6,763 citations
TL;DR: This Review focuses on recent developments on flat, ultrathin optical components dubbed 'metasurfaces' that produce abrupt changes over the scale of the free-space wavelength in the phase, amplitude and/or polarization of a light beam.
Abstract: Metamaterials are artificially fabricated materials that allow for the control of light and acoustic waves in a manner that is not possible in nature. This Review covers the recent developments in the study of so-called metasurfaces, which offer the possibility of controlling light with ultrathin, planar optical components. Conventional optical components such as lenses, waveplates and holograms rely on light propagation over distances much larger than the wavelength to shape wavefronts. In this way substantial changes of the amplitude, phase or polarization of light waves are gradually accumulated along the optical path. This Review focuses on recent developments on flat, ultrathin optical components dubbed 'metasurfaces' that produce abrupt changes over the scale of the free-space wavelength in the phase, amplitude and/or polarization of a light beam. Metasurfaces are generally created by assembling arrays of miniature, anisotropic light scatterers (that is, resonators such as optical antennas). The spacing between antennas and their dimensions are much smaller than the wavelength. As a result the metasurfaces, on account of Huygens principle, are able to mould optical wavefronts into arbitrary shapes with subwavelength resolution by introducing spatial variations in the optical response of the light scatterers. Such gradient metasurfaces go beyond the well-established technology of frequency selective surfaces made of periodic structures and are extending to new spectral regions the functionalities of conventional microwave and millimetre-wave transmit-arrays and reflect-arrays. Metasurfaces can also be created by using ultrathin films of materials with large optical losses. By using the controllable abrupt phase shifts associated with reflection or transmission of light waves at the interface between lossy materials, such metasurfaces operate like optically thin cavities that strongly modify the light spectrum. Technology opportunities in various spectral regions and their potential advantages in replacing existing optical components are discussed.
4,613 citations
TL;DR: This review looks at the unique property combination that characterizes phase-change materials, in particular the contrast between the amorphous and crystalline states, and the origin of the fast crystallization kinetics.
Abstract: Phase-change materials are some of the most promising materials for data-storage applications. They are already used in rewriteable optical data storage and offer great potential as an emerging non-volatile electronic memory. This review looks at the unique property combination that characterizes phase-change materials. The crystalline state often shows an octahedral-like atomic arrangement, frequently accompanied by pronounced lattice distortions and huge vacancy concentrations. This can be attributed to the chemical bonding in phase-change alloys, which is promoted by p-orbitals. From this insight, phase-change alloys with desired properties can be designed. This is demonstrated for the optical properties of phase-change alloys, in particular the contrast between the amorphous and crystalline states. The origin of the fast crystallization kinetics is also discussed.
2,985 citations
TL;DR: Progress in the optics of metasurfaces is reviewed and promising applications for surface-confined planar photonics components are discussed and the studies of new, low-loss, tunable plasmonic materials—such as transparent conducting oxides and intermetallics—that can be used as building blocks for metAsurfaces will complement the exploration of smart designs and advanced switching capabilities.
Abstract: Metamaterials, or engineered materials with rationally designed, subwavelength-scale building blocks, allow us to control the behavior of physical fields in optical, microwave, radio, acoustic, heat transfer, and other applications with flexibility and performance that are unattainable with naturally available materials. In turn, metasurfaces-planar, ultrathin metamaterials-extend these capabilities even further. Optical metasurfaces offer the fascinating possibility of controlling light with surface-confined, flat components. In the planar photonics concept, it is the reduced dimensionality of the optical metasurfaces that enables new physics and, therefore, leads to functionalities and applications that are distinctly different from those achievable with bulk, multilayer metamaterials. Here, we review the progress in developing optical metasurfaces that has occurred over the past few years with an eye toward the promising future directions in the field.
2,562 citations