Functional Metasurface Quarter-Wave Plates for Simultaneous Polarization Conversion and Beam Steering

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Nanotechnology
• Optics and Light Manipulation

Background:

• Controlling light polarization at the nanoscale is crucial for advanced technologies like optical communication and quantum information processing.
• Gap-surface plasmon (GSP) metasurfaces offer powerful capabilities for molding reflected light fields and integrating multiple optical functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a versatile GSP metasurface platform utilizing nanoscale quarter-wave plates (nano-QWPs).
• To achieve efficient circular-to-linear polarization conversion and complete phase control over reflected fields.
• To demonstrate independent and simultaneous phase modulation of co- and cross-polarized circularly polarized (CP) waves.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication and characterization of a GSP metasurface platform based on nano-QWPs.
• Theoretical and experimental investigation of resonance and geometric phase contributions.
• Demonstration of arbitrary beam steering for co- and cross-polarized CP channels in the near-infrared spectrum.

Main Results:

• Efficient circular-to-linear polarization conversion achieved using the nano-QWP based GSP metasurface.
• Independent and simultaneous phase modulation of co- and cross-polarized CP waves demonstrated.
• Broadband near-infrared operation with arbitrary beam steering capabilities for both polarization channels.

Conclusions:

• The developed GSP metasurface platform offers a versatile solution for multifunctional polarization optics.
• This technology enables enhanced control over reflected fields, paving the way for advanced integrated photonic devices.
• The findings provide flexible solutions for diversified metasurface-based polarization optics in modern systems.