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Ultrathin Tunable Optomechanical Metalens.
Adeel Afridi1,2, Jan Gieseler1, Nadine Meyer2
1ICFO Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, Mediterranean Technology Park, 08860 Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain.
Nano Letters
|March 23, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed an ultrathin tunable metalens with optomechanical control. This innovative device achieves fast focal length changes exceeding 5% with microsecond response times, advancing photonics technology.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Metamaterials Science
- Optomechanical Systems Engineering
Background:
- Metasurfaces offer enhanced functionalities for photonics but achieving dynamic tunability without bulkiness remains a challenge.
- Current methods for metasurface reconfigurability often involve altering meta-atom permittivity, facing limitations in speed and size.
- Static metasurfaces lack the adaptability required for advanced optical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate an ultrathin tunable metalens with reconfigurable focal distance.
- To explore optomechanical control for achieving fast and significant tunability in metalenses.
- To overcome the bulkiness limitations associated with current tunable metasurface technologies.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of an ultrathin metalens capable of dynamic focal length adjustment.
- Implementation of an optomechanical control system to modify the metalens' optical properties.
- Utilizing moderate continuous wave laser intensities for actuation.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated an ultrathin tunable metalens with adjustable focal distance.
- Achieved focal length changes greater than 5% through optomechanical control.
- Exhibited a rapid response time on the order of 10 microseconds for focal length modulation.
Conclusions:
- The developed ultrathin metalens offers a promising solution for dynamic optical control.
- Optomechanical actuation enables fast and significant tunability in metalenses without increasing device size.
- This technology advances reconfigurable photonics, enabling new applications in optical systems.
