Metalens for Generating a Customized Vectorial Focal Curve

Area of Science:

• Photonics and optical engineering
• Light field manipulation
• Nanophotonics

Background:

• Three-dimensional (3D) light fields with complex polarization and intensity are crucial for advanced optical applications.
• Simultaneously controlling both intensity and polarization profiles in 3D light fields is a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally demonstrate a metalens capable of focusing light into arbitrarily shaped 3D focal curves.
• To achieve predefined and controlled polarization distributions along these focal curves.

Main Methods:

• Design and fabrication of a specialized metalens.
• Experimental focusing of light into complex 3D trajectories.
• Characterization of intensity profiles and local polarization states along the focal curves.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated focusing of light into various 3D shapes, including circles and complex knots.
• Successfully controlled the local polarization states along the arbitrary focal curves.
• Showcased the metalens' ability to precisely engineer 3D light fields.

Conclusions:

• The developed metalens provides unprecedented control over 3D light fields, overcoming limitations of conventional optics.
• This technology has potential applications in advanced beam engineering, optical trapping, and integrated optical systems.