High-Q perfect light absorption enabled by degenerate merging BICs
Optics Express
|July 30, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed a polarization-independent perfect light absorber using metasurfaces. This device allows tunable control over the absorption quality (Q) factor, crucial for optoelectronic applications like photodetection and spectral sensing.
Area of Science:
- Optoelectronics
- Metamaterials
- Nanophotonics
Background:
- Achieving high-quality (Q) light absorption in thin dielectric films is essential for optoelectronic devices.
- Controlling absorption linewidth requires simultaneous management of radiative and non-radiative losses for critical coupling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design a metasurface-based, polarization-independent perfect light absorber with a tunable absorption Q factor.
- To demonstrate a dual-control mechanism for achieving high Q factors at desired wavelengths.
Main Methods:
- Tuning radiative decay rate by adjusting metasurface lattice constant via degenerate merging bound states in the continuum (BICs).
- Controlling non-radiative loss rate by introducing a waveguiding layer to modulate resonant field overlap with the absorbing medium.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a metasurface absorber with a tunable absorption Q factor.
- Achieved arbitrarily high absorption Q factors at a desired wavelength under critical coupling.
- Showcased polarization-independent perfect light absorption.
Conclusions:
- The proposed dual-control mechanism provides a versatile platform for narrowband light absorption with tunable spectral linewidths.
- This approach opens new opportunities for advanced photodetection and spectral sensing applications.
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