Microscopic metavehicles powered and steered by embedded optical metasurfaces

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Nanotechnology
• Micro-robotics

Background:

• Nanostructured dielectric metasurfaces enable precise light manipulation by creating phase gradients.
• Phase manipulation of light induces forces and torques on metasurfaces, previously unexploited.
• Flat optical analogues like lenses and axicons have been realized using metasurfaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and utilize optomechanical effects in metasurfaces for novel applications.
• To demonstrate the creation and control of microscopic optical vehicles (metavehicles).
• To explore the potential of metavehicles for cargo transport and complex motion under light illumination.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of nanostructured dielectric metasurfaces.
• Illumination with low-intensity plane-wave light.
• Control of metavehicle motion and steering via incident light polarization.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated optical metavehicles capable of long-distance travel under plane-wave illumination.
• Achieved complex motion patterns and self-correcting movement of metavehicles.
• Showcased metavehicles as transport vehicles for microscopic cargoes, including unicellular organisms.

Conclusions:

• Optomechanical effects in metasurfaces can be harnessed to create functional optical metavehicles.
• Metavehicles offer a promising platform for controlled microscopic transport and manipulation.
• The design flexibility of metasurfaces allows for the development of diverse metavehicles with specialized behaviors.