Catenary optics: a perspective of applications and challenges

Area of Science:

• Subwavelength optics
• Metasurface design
• Catenary optics

Background:

• Catenary optics is crucial for understanding coupled metallic subwavelength structures.
• It is essential for designing broadband, high-efficiency geometric-phase metasurfaces.
• Catenary functions are key components in describing optical fields and dispersion properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the developments in catenary optics.
• To discuss its physical concepts, properties, and applications.
• To provide future perspectives on this emerging field.

Main Methods:

• Discussion of historical developments.
• Explanation of physical concepts and properties of catenary optics.
• Review of current and potential applications.

Main Results:

• Catenary optics enables the description of electric fields and dispersion in coupled metallic subwavelength structures.
• It facilitates the design of broadband high-efficiency geometric-phase metasurfaces.
• Recent advancements include broadband photonic spin-Hall effect, super-resolution lithography, broadband absorbers, and extreme-angle imaging.

Conclusions:

• Catenary optics is a rapidly developing area with significant potential.
• Its applications span various advanced optical phenomena and technologies.
• Further research promises new breakthroughs in subwavelength optics and metasurface design.