A thin anisotropic metasurface for simultaneous light focusing and polarization manipulation

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel thin anisotropic metasurface that integrates light focusing and polarization manipulation, enabling compact optical components for mid-infrared applications.

Contribution

It introduces a new design of a polarizing lens using Y-shaped nanoantennas, combining polarization control and focusing in a single metasurface device.

Findings

Optimal metasurface designs for mid-infrared frequencies

Effective polarization-dependent phase control

Potential for integration in compact optical systems

Abstract

The possibility of integration of two important categories of optical components, i.e., circular polarizer and lens, into a thin plasmonic metasurface is examined. After exploring general theoretical formulation, optimal designs to realize polarizing lenses at mid-infrared frequencies are presented, for the cases when metal losses cannot be neglected. A two-dimensional array of Y-shaped nanoantennas with polarization dependent and spatially varying phase response is the basis for such a unique compact polarizing lens, whose properties can have a high impact in integrated optics.