Polarization-Sensitive Diffractive Optics and Metasurfaces: "Past is Prologue"

TL;DR

This paper reviews the evolution of polarization control in metasurfaces compared to traditional diffractive optics, highlighting what innovations have been introduced and what aspects remain similar to past technologies.

Contribution

It provides a functional comparison of modern polarization-sensitive metasurfaces with historical diffractive optics, clarifying the novel features and limitations.

Findings

Metasurfaces offer enhanced polarization control capabilities.

Many functionalities of metasurfaces are rooted in principles established in earlier diffractive optics.

The review clarifies the technological progression and remaining challenges.

Abstract

Polarization control and switchability are among the most unique features of "metasurfaces" as compared with diffractive optics technologies of the past. Here, we review how the polarization control afforded by the advent of present-day metasurfaces compares to diffractive elements of previous decades, clarifying from a functional perspective what is new, and what is not.