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Optical meta-waveguides for integrated photonics and beyond
Yuan Meng1, Yizhen Chen2, Longhui Lu3
1State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Department of Precision Instrument, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China.
Light, Science & Applications
|November 23, 2021
Summary
Advanced meta-waveguides, integrating subwavelength structures with optical waveguides, offer unprecedented control over light. This review highlights their design, applications, and potential in photonic integrated circuits and beyond.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Nanofabrication enables sophisticated optical structures on photonic chips.
- Subwavelength metasurfaces and metamaterials are integrated with optical waveguides.
- This integration is reshaping photonic integrated circuits (PICs) with meta-waveguides.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in meta-structured waveguides.
- To summarize foundational results and applications of meta-waveguides.
- To highlight the role of meta-optics in waveguide-based devices.
Main Methods:
- Review of meta-structured waveguides synergizing photonic architectures with dielectric, plasmonic, and fiber platforms.
- Cataloging of physical models and design tutorials (intuition-based and inverse design).
- Analysis of enhanced light-matter interaction and nanoscale light manipulation.
Main Results:
- Meta-waveguides provide unprecedented control over guided electromagnetic waves.
- Meta-optics enhances device performance through stronger light-matter interactions.
- Novel functionalities are enabled by versatile designer media for nanoscale light manipulation.
Conclusions:
- Meta-waveguides offer new degrees of freedom for waveguide-based devices and systems.
- Emerging opportunities exist in PICs, biomedical sensing, and artificial intelligence.
- This field presents vibrant opportunities for future research and applications.
