Thermally switchable polarization manipulation and diodelike transmission in scalable, resonator-free, mid-infrared metasurfaces with vanadium-dioxide grids

TL;DR

This paper introduces scalable mid-infrared metasurfaces with VO2 grids that enable thermally switchable polarization control and diode-like asymmetric transmission, demonstrating significant bandwidth and tunability.

Contribution

The study designs and numerically demonstrates a novel three-array metasurface with VO2 that switches functionalities based on phase change, offering scalable and tunable polarization and transmission control.

Findings

Switchable polarization manipulation bands up to 40 THz wide.

Asymmetric diodelike transmission can be modulated via Fabry--Perot resonances.

Metasurface functionalities depend on VO2 phase and incorporation method.

Abstract

We conceptualized three-array scalable metasurfaces comprising only three thin strip grids and numerically demonstrated their characteristics in the mid-infrared spectral regime for switchable polarization manipulation and related asymmetric diodelike transmission (AT). A few or all of the grids were taken to be made of VO$_2$, a phase-change material. For each proposed metasurface, two effective structures and, therefore, two different functionalities exist, corresponding to the metallic and insulating phases of VO$_2$. The achieved scenarios of functionality switching that depend on the VO$_2$ phase are shown to significantly depend in the way in which VO$_2$ is incorporated to the metasurface. Switchable bands of polarization manipulation are up to 40 THz wide. The AT band can be modulated when Fabry--Perot (anti-)resonances come into play.