Spatiotemporal light control with frequency-gradient metasurfaces

Beam steering with a metasurface Metasurfaces have been designed that function as many passive optical elements. Shaltout et al. created a time-dependent active element. A frequency-comb light beam (a light source consisting of a broad range of evenly spaced wavelengths) interacted with a specially designed passive metasurface so that the beam could be rapidly (<8 picoseconds) swept over a broad angle (25°). Such beam-steering capability could directly affect augmented and virtual reality systems. Science, this issue p. 374 A metasurface array can rapidly sweep a beam of light over a wide angle. The capability of on-chip wavefront modulation has the potential to revolutionize many optical device technologies. However, the realization of power-efficient phase-gradient metasurfaces that offer full-phase modulation (0 to 2π) and high operation speeds remains elusive. We present an approach to continuously steer light that is based on creating a virtual frequency-gradient metasurface by combining a passive metasurface with an advanced frequency-comb source. Spatiotemporal redirection of light naturally occurs as optical phase-fronts reorient at a speed controlled by the frequency gradient across the virtual metasurface. An experimental realization of laser beam steering with a continuously changing steering angle is demonstrated with a single metasurface over an angle of 25° in just 8 picoseconds. This work can support integrated-on-chip solutions for spatiotemporal optical control, directly affecting emerging applications such as solid-state light detection and ranging (LIDAR), three-dimensional imaging, and augmented or virtual systems.

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