Electrically switchable $2^N$-channel wave-front control with N cascaded polarization-dependent metasurfaces

TL;DR

This paper introduces a cascaded metasurface design enabling 2^N electrically switchable channels for advanced optical control, demonstrated with an 8-channel system for beam steering and vortex beam generation.

Contribution

The authors propose a scalable cascaded metasurface structure that achieves 2^N switchable channels without noise or cross-talk, extending the functionality of polarization-multiplexed metasurfaces.

Findings

Successfully demonstrated 8 channels with a 3-layer setup.

Achieved switchable vortex beams with topological charge from -3 to +4 and -1 to -8.

Enabled beam steering with switchable directions in 8*1 and 4*2 configurations.

Abstract

Metasurfaces with tunable functionalities are greatly desired for modern optical system and various applications. To increase the operating channels of polarization-multiplexed metasurfaces, we proposed a structure of N cascaded dual-channel metasurfaces to achieve 2^N electrically switchable functional channels without intrinsic noise or cross-talk. As proof of principles, we have implemented a 3-layer setup to achieve 8 channels. In success, we have demonstrated two typical functionalities of vortex beam generation with switchable topological charge of l=-3 ~ +4 or l=-1~ -8, and beam steering with the deflecting direction switchable in an 8*1 line or a 4*2 grid. We believe that our proposal would provide a practical way to significantly increase the scalability and extend the functionality of polarization-multiplexed metasurfaces, which are potential for the applications of LiDAR, glasses-free 3D display, OAM (de)multiplexing, and varifocal meta-lens.