Ultracompact waveplates: Approach from metamaterials

Ultracompact waveplates working in subwavelength scale are substantiated in realistic simulation. The optical elements have been designed employing transparent photonic metamaterials of remarkably strong anisotropy. The waveplates are far more efficient at visible wavelengths than usual bulk waveplates and are shown to be compact down to subwavelength dimensions. Similar designs for the telecommunication wavelengths are also presented.