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High-performance meta-devices based on multilayer meta-atoms: interplay between the number of layers and phase
Bowen Yang1, Tong Liu2, Huijie Guo2
1Key Laboratory of Specialty Fiber Optics and Optical Access Networks, Joint International Research Laboratory of Specialty Fiber Optics and Advanced Communication, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China.
Abstract:
Transmissive metasurfaces have provided an efficient platform to manipulate electromagnetic (EM) waves, but previously adopted multilayer meta-atoms are too thick and/or the design approach fully relies on brute-force simulations without physical understandings. Here, based on coupled-mode theory (CMT) analyses on multilayer meta-atoms of distinct types, it is found that meta-atoms of a specific type only allows the phase coverage over a particular range, thus suitable for polarization-control applications. However, combinations of meta-atoms with distinct types are necessary for building ultra-thin wavefront-control meta-devices requiring 360° phase coverage. Based on these physical understandings, high-efficiency meta-atoms are designed/fabricated, and used to construct three typical meta-devices, including quarter- and half-wave plates and a beam deflector. Our results elucidate the physics underlying the interplay between thicknesses and performances of transmissive metasurfaces, which can guide the realizations of miniaturized transmissive meta-devices in different frequency domains.
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