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Programming of refractive functions
Md Sadman Sakib Rahman1,2,3, Tianyi Gan1,3, Mona Jarrahi1,3
1Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Nature Communications
|July 27, 2025
Summary
Scientists engineered a material to arbitrarily control light refraction, enabling programmable light bending. This refractive function generator (RFG) allows customized light paths for advanced optical applications.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Metamaterials
- Wave Phenomena
Background:
- Snell's law governs light refraction at media interfaces.
- Traditional optical components offer limited control over light paths.
- Programmable control of light refraction is a key challenge in optics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate arbitrary programming of light refraction using engineered materials.
- To develop a refractive function generator (RFG) capable of independent control over input and output wave directions.
- To explore wavelength-multiplexed refractive functions within a single material.
Main Methods:
- Designing cascaded transmissive layers with optimized phase profiles.
- Fabricating the engineered material using 3D printing techniques.
- Experimental validation in the terahertz spectrum.
Main Results:
- Achieved arbitrary permutations of light refraction between input and output apertures.
- Demonstrated a compact RFG spanning only tens of wavelengths.
- Successfully implemented wavelength-multiplexed refractive functions, switching behavior with illumination wavelength.
- Experimental proof of concept for permutation and negative refractive functions.
Conclusions:
- Arbitrary programming of refractive functions is achievable with engineered materials.
- The developed RFG offers unprecedented design flexibility for optical systems.
- This technology opens new avenues for advanced optical materials, devices, and systems.
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