Abstract: The present disclosure provides an optical component, which may be a metasurface grating, including (a) a substrate; and (b) an array of subwavelength-spaced phase-shifting elements, which are tessellated on the substrate to produce, when illuminated with a polarized incident light, a diffracted light beam with a distinct polarization state for each of a finite number of diffraction orders, wherein the finite number is 2 or more.

Abstract: An optical device includes a membrane. The membrane includes a plurality of apertures extending at least partially through a thickness of the membrane. The membrane is configured to structure incoming light having a wavelength to produce modified light. The wavelength of the incoming light in vacuum is in a range of ultraviolet light and mid-infrared. The membrane is configured to reflect the modified light away from the membrane or transmit the modified light through the membrane. A separation between each of the plurality of apertures is subwavelength relative to the wavelength of the incoming light. A width of each of the plurality of apertures is subwavelength relative to the wavelength of the incoming light. A length of each of the plurality of apertures is wavelength-scale relative to the wavelength of the incoming light.

Abstract: An optical device comprises a first meta-lens and a second meta-lens. The first meta-lens includes a first plurality of nanostructures that define a first phase profile of the first meta-lens. The second meta-lens includes a second plurality of nanostructures that define a second phase profile of the second meta-lens. A combination of the first meta-lens having the first phase profile and the second meta-lens having the second phase profile is configured to achieve a diffraction-limited focusing and correct an aberration of light transmitted through the optical device.

Abstract: A multi-layered lens comprises a plurality of metasurface layers. At least some layers of the plurality of metasurface layers include features that exhibit angular phase controls. The angular phases of the at least some layers cause an angular aberration correction or an angle convergence that focuses light onto a focal point regardless of angles of incidence.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a visible spectrum optical component includes: providing a substrate; forming a resist layer over a surface of the substrate; patterning the resist layer to form a patterned resist layer defining openings exposing portions of the surface of the substrate; performing deposition to form a dielectric film over the patterned resist layer and over the exposed portions of the surface of the substrate, wherein a top surface of the dielectric film is above a top surface of the patterned resist layer; removing a top portion of the dielectric film to expose the top surface of the patterned resist layer and top surfaces of dielectric units within the openings of the patterned resist layer; and removing the patterned resist layer to retain the dielectric units over the substrate.

Abstract: A device includes a first mode converter and a second mode converter that define a region between the first mode converter and the second mode converter. The region can contain a plurality of optical modes including at least three modes. The first mode converter and the second mode converter can generate a near-field via a conversion between the plurality of optical modes. The first mode converter can receive an input wave of a first mode and the second mode converter can generate an output wave of a second mode different from the first mode. The first mode converter and the second mode converter can generate a confined near-field via a conversion between the plurality of optical modes.

Abstract: A laser device includes a gain medium including a facet. The laser device includes a metasurface including a plurality of supercells. The metasurface is disposed on a substrate and configured to reflect and focus a first portion of light from the facet back to the gain medium as a feedback beam. The metasurface can be configured to reflect a second portion of the light as an output beam at an angle that is nonzero relative to a direction of the feedback beam. The metasurface can be configured to transmit a second portion of the light as an output beam through the metasurface away from the facet. The emission wavelength of the laser device can be tuned by translating the metasurface. The output beam can be collimated towards a fixed direction while tuning the wavelength.

Abstract: An optical device includes a first zone including a first plurality of nanoscale elements. The first plurality of nanoscale elements has a first optical dispersion profile and a first orientation. The optical device has a second zone including a second plurality of nanoscale elements. The second plurality of nanoscale elements has a second optical dispersion profile and a second orientation. The first orientation and the second orientation are configured according to constructive interference for a plurality of wavelengths and a focal length.

Abstract: An optical component comprises a metasurface comprising nanoscale elements. The metasurface is configured to receive incident light and to generate optical outputs. The geometries and/or orientations of the nanoscale elements provide a first optical output upon receiving a polarized incident light with a first polarization, and provide a second optical output upon receiving a polarized incident light with a second polarization that is different from the first polarization.

Abstract: Multi-wavelength light is directed to an optic including a substrate and achromatic metasurface optical components deposited on a surface of the substrate. The achromatic metasurface optical components comprise a pattern of dielectric resonators. The dielectric resonators have nonperiodic gap distances between adjacent dielectric resonators; and each dielectric resonator has a width, w, that is distinct from the width of other dielectric resonators. A plurality of wavelengths of interest selected from the wavelengths of the multi-wavelength light are deflected with the achromatic metasurface optical components at a shared angle or to or from a focal point at a shared focal length.

Abstract: A device includes a first mode converter and a second mode converter that define a region between the first mode converter and the second mode converter. The region can contain a plurality of orthogonal modes of a wave. The wave, when sent from outside the region and when propagating from the first mode converter towards the second mode converter, can include a first mode of the plurality of orthogonal modes. The second mode converter can convert the wave from the first mode of the plurality of orthogonal modes, to a second mode of the plurality of orthogonal modes that is different from the first mode. The first mode converter can convert the wave to the first mode of the plurality of orthogonal modes.

Abstract: A laser device includes a gain medium including a facet. The laser device includes a metasurface including a plurality of supercells. The metasurface is disposed on a substrate and configured to reflect and focus a first portion of light from the facet back to the gain medium as a feedback beam. The metasurface can be configured to reflect a second portion of the light as an output beam at an angle that is nonzero relative to a direction of the feedback beam. The metasurface can be configured to transmit a second portion of the light as an output beam through the metasurface away from the facet. The emission wavelength of the laser device can be tuned by translating the metasurface. The output beam can be collimated towards a fixed direction while tuning the wavelength.

Abstract: An optical system, comprising: (i) multiple input optical fibers; (ii) an optical mode multiplexer/demultiplexer coupled to said input optical fibers with, said optical mode multiplexer/demultiplexer comprising a plurality of metamaterial structures having length and forming at least one stage of metamaterials, the at least one stage of metamaterials is being situated on a surface of the optical mode multiplexer/demultiplexer facing the input optical fibers, and the at least one stage of metamaterials is oriented at angles between 60 and 120 degrees relative to the axis of the input fibers; and the metasurfaces are structured to receive a first optical signal having a first mode from at least one of said multiple input optical fibers and convert the first mode to a different mode.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and techniques for performing wavelength division multiplexing or demultiplexing using one or more metamaterials in an optical communications systems are described. An optical device may be configured to shift one or more phase profiles of an optical signal using one or more stages of metamaterials to multiplex or demultiplex wavelengths of optical signals. The optical device may be an example of a stacked design with two or more stages of metamaterials stacked on top of one another. The optical device may be an example of a folded design that reflects optical signals between different stages of metamaterials.

Abstract: Disclosed is a broadband achromatic metasurface waveplate including a device that includes a plurality of nanostructures physically coupled to a substrate and formed at least partially of a dielectric material having a first refractive index and an anti-reflective film applied to a surface of the device. The anti-reflective film may include a material having a second refractive index that is less than the first refractive index. The device and the anti-reflective film may modify incident light with wavelengths extending over a bandwidth of at least 100 nanometers to impart a substantially uniform phase retardation across the wavelengths and a transmittance of at least 90 percent across the wavelengths.

Abstract: An optical component comprises a metasurface comprising nanoscale elements. The metasurface is configured to receive incident light and to generate optical outputs. The geometries and/or orientations of the nanoscale elements provide a first optical output upon receiving a polarized incident light with a first polarization, and provide a second optical output upon receiving a polarized incident light with a second polarization that is different from the first polarization.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and techniques for performing wavelength division multiplexing or demultiplexing using one or more metamaterials in an optical communications systems are described. An optical device may be configured to shift one or more phase profiles of an optical signal using one or more stages of metamaterials to multiplex or demultiplex wavelengths of optical signals. The optical device may be an example of a stacked design with two or more stages of metamaterials stacked on top of one another. The optical device may be an example of a folded design that reflects optical signals between different stages of metamaterials.

Abstract: Disclosed is a depth sensor for determining depth. The depth sensor can include a photosensor, a metalens configured to manipulate light to simultaneously produce at least two images having different focal distances on a surface of the photosensor, and processing circuitry configured to receive, from the photosensor, a measurement of the at least two images having different focal distances. The depth sensor can determine, according to the measurement, a depth associated with at least one feature in the at least two images.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of generating a functional singularity at a point or collection of points. The method may include determining a relationship between one or more parameters associated with a physical structure and a spatial gradient of field values of at least one of electromagnetic energy, sound energy, particle beam, or water waves manipulated by the physical structure, configuring, according to the relationship, the spatial gradient of field values to represent a functional singularity at a point, performing backpropagation using the spatial gradient of field values to obtain design parameters corresponding to values for the one or more parameters that achieve the functional singularity at the point, and producing a physical structure having the design parameters.

Abstract: An optical metasurface film includes a flexible polymeric film having a first major surface, a patterned polymer layer having a first surface proximate to the first major surface of the flexible polymeric film and having a second nanostructured surface opposite the first surface, and a refractive index contrast layer adjacent to the nanostructured surface of the patterned polymer layer forming a nanostructured bilayer with a nanostructured interface. The nanostructured bilayer acts locally on amplitude, phase, or polarization of light, or a combination thereof and imparts a light phase shift that varies as a function of position of the nano structured bilayer on the flexible polymeric film. The light phase shift of the nanostructured bilayer defines a predetermined operative phase profile of the optical metasurface film.