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Discriminating between Coherent and Incoherent Light with Planar Metamaterials
T Frank1,2, O Buchnev2,3, T Cookson1
1Physics and Astronomy , University of Southampton , Southampton SO17 1BJ , U.K.
Nano Letters
|September 20, 2019
Summary
Planar metamaterials made of nanopatterned metal films can distinguish between coherent and incoherent light. This novel effect offers new possibilities for nanoscale optical devices.
Area of Science:
- Optical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Planar metamaterials offer advanced control over light at structured interfaces without high-order diffraction.
- Natural optical materials lack the ability to differentiate light based on spatial coherence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the differential response of specific planar metamaterials to coherent versus incoherent light.
- To explore the potential of this phenomenon for novel optical applications.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of planar metamaterials using nanopatterned metal films.
- Experimental characterization of material response to spatially coherent and incoherent light sources.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that certain planar metamaterials exhibit distinct responses to coherent and incoherent light.
- Achieved robust speckle-free discrimination of light coherence degrees.
Conclusions:
- The discovered effect in planar metamaterials is unique and has no parallel in natural materials.
- Potential applications include advanced nanoscale metadevices for imaging, vision, detection, communication, and metrology.
