Abstract: An electrically-variable optical device includes a planar optical element (POE) and at least one electromechanical layer. The POE includes at least one optical layer. The at least one electromechanical layer is configured to spatially deform the POE to change an optical parameter of the POE. The at least one electromechanical layer may include a dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) which includes electrodes and an elastomeric spacer between the electrodes. An electric field may be introduced between the electrodes to deform the spacer, which in turn deforms the POE.

Abstract: An optical device comprises a substrate and a metasurface. The metasurface comprises a plurality of nanoscale elements disposed on the transparent substrate at different orientations. The orientations of the nanoscale elements define a phase profile such that the nanoscale elements convert an incident light into an output light propagating substantially without diffraction.

Abstract: A meta-lens having a phase profile includes a substrate and a plurality of nanostructures disposed on the substrate. The nanostructures together define the phase profile of the meta-lens. The phase profile achieves an off-axis focus. Each nanostructure is designed according to at least one design parameter of the nanostructure that imparts a phase shift of light passing through the nanostructure.

Abstract: A meta-lens having a phase profile includes a substrate and a plurality of nanostructures disposed on the substrate. Each individual nanostructure of the nanostructures imparts a light phase shift that varies depending on a location of the individual nanostructure on the substrate. The light phase shifts of the nanostructures define the phase profile of the meta-lens. The varying light phase shifts can be realized by, e.g., changing orientations of nanofins or changing diameters of nanopillars.

Abstract: Lighting devices including metalenses are disclosed. In some embodiments, the metalenses are in the form of a hybrid multi-region collimating metalens that includes a first region and a second region, wherein the hybrid multi-region collimating metalens is configured to collimate (e.g., visible) light incident thereon. In some instances the first region includes an array of first unit cells that contain sub-wavelength spaced nanostructures, such that the first region functions as a sub-wavelength high contrast grating (SWHCG), whereas the second region includes an array of second unit cell, wherein the array of second unit cells includes a near periodic annular arrangement of nanostructures such that the second region approximates the functionality of a locally periodic radial diffraction grating.

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 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 method of fabricating an optical device and the associated optical device are disclosed. The optical device includes a metasurface and a substrate that are integrally formed by the same materials. The method comprises: forming a photoresist mask on a substrate, the photoresist mask defining a metasurface pattern based on an optical profile of a target optical device; generating metasurface features on the substrate, by etching away a portion of the substrate that is not covered by the photoresist mask; and producing the target optical device having the metasurface features, by removing the photoresist mask, wherein the metasurface features include a portion of a material of the substrate.

Abstract: A method of generating a layout data file for a metasurface device is disclosed. At a radial position of a metasurface device, the method determines a primitive cell of a first level having a metasurface feature pattern that is repeated around an arc corresponding to a circumference at the radial position. The method generates metasurface structures of higher levels. Each metasurface structure of a higher level includes multiple references to a structure or a primitive cell of a next lower level. The method stores at least a portion of a layout of the metasurface device to a layout data file. The layout includes references to metasurface structures of two or more of the higher levels.

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: Metalenses and technologies incorporating the same are disclosed. In some embodiments, the metalenses are in the form of a hybrid multiregion collimating metalens that includes a first region and a second region, wherein the hybrid multiregion collimating metalens is configured to collimate (e.g., visible) light incident thereon. In some instances the first region includes an array of first unit cells that contain subwavelength spaced nanostructures, such that the first region functions as a subwavelength high contrast grating (SWHCG), whereas the second region includes an array of second unit cell, wherein the array of second unit cells includes a near periodic annular arrangement of nanostructures such that the second region approximates the functionality of a locally periodic radial diffraction grating. Lighting devices including such metalenses are also disclosed.

Abstract: The solar cell structure according to the present invention comprises a nanowire (205) that constitutes the light absorbing part of the solar cell structure and a passivating shell (209) that encloses at least a portion of the nanowire (205). In a first aspect of the invention, the passivating shell (209) of comprises a light guiding shell (210), which preferably has a high- and indirect bandgap to provide light guiding properties. In a second aspect of the invention, the solar cell structure comprises a plurality of nanowires which are positioned with a maximum spacing between adjacent nanowires which is shorter than the wavelength of the light which the solar cell structure is intended to absorbing order to provide an effective medium for light absorption. Thanks to the invention it is possible to provide high efficiency solar cell structures.

Abstract: Metalenses and technologies incorporating the same are disclosed. In some embodiments, the metalenses are in the form of a hybrid multiregion collimating metalens that includes a first region and a second region, wherein the hybrid multiregion collimating metalens is configured to collimate (e.g., visible) light incident thereon. In some instances the first region includes an array of first unit cells that contain subwavelength spaced nanostructures, such that the first region functions as a subwavelength high contrast grating (SWHCG), whereas the second region includes an array of second unit cell, wherein the array of second unit cells includes a near periodic annular arrangement of nanostructures such that the second region approximates the functionality of a locally periodic radial diffraction grating. Lighting devices including such metalenses are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate and at least one transmissive directional diffractive component disposed on the substrate. The device has high efficiency transmission over a broadband portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Abstract: An optical device includes a substrate, a reflective layer disposed over the substrate, and a metalens disposed over the reflective layer. The metalens includes a plurality of nanopillars, the plurality of nanopillars together specifying a phase profile such that the metalens has a focal length that is substantially constant over a wavelength range of an incident light of about 490 nm to about 550 nm.

Abstract: A phase shift element includes a substrate and a dielectric ridge waveguide (DRW) disposed on the substrate. The DRW includes a dielectric material, and a width of the DRW is less than 500 nanometers (nm). A meta-grating includes a substrate and multiple dielectric ridge wave-guides (DRWs) disposed on the substrate.

Abstract: A spectral encoder includes a thin layer of lossy dielectric material whose thickness varies transversely from 0 to a thickness of about ?/4n (e.g., <100 nm), where ? is the wavelength of incident radiation and n is the dielectric material's refractive index. The dielectric layer reflects (and/or transmits) light at a wavelength that depends on the layer's thickness. Because the dielectric layer's thickness varies, different parts of the dielectric layer may reflect (transmit) light at different wavelengths. For instance, shining white light on a dielectric layer with a linearly varying thickness may produce a rainbow-like reflected (and/or transmitted) beam. Thus, the spectral encoder maps different wavelengths to different points in space. This mapping can be characterized by a transfer matrix which can be used to determine the spectrum of radiation incident on the spectral encoder from the spatial intensity distribution of the radiation reflected (and/or transmitted) by the spectral encoder.

Abstract: Metalenses and technologies incorporating the same are disclosed. In some embodiments, the metalenses are in the form of a hybrid multiregion collimating metalens that includes a first region and a second region, wherein the hybrid multiregion collimating metalens is configured to collimate (e.g., visible) light incident thereon. In some instances the first region includes an array of first unit cells that contain subwavelength spaced nanostructures, such that the first region functions as a subwavelength high contrast grating (SWHCG), whereas the second region includes an array of second unit cell, wherein the array of second unit cells includes a near periodic annular arrangement of nanostructures such that the second region approximates the functionality of a locally periodic radial diffraction grating. Lighting devices including such metalenses are also disclosed.

Abstract: A polarimeter includes an integrated device with an array of antennas including multiple column pairs. Each column pair has two columns, and each column in each column pair includes multiple antennas. A first column of each column pair in the array scatters a first polarization component of an incident radiation, and a second column of each column pair in the array scatters a second polarization component of the incident radiation. The scattered fields of the column pairs interfere constructively in a direction depending on the polarization of the incident radiation, resulting in maximal intensity at a certain point in space for a specific polarization state. Multiple column pairs in parallel and oriented at angles with respect to each other can be used to scatter different polarization components of the incident radiation directionally to different points in space. Detectors are positioned with respect to the integrated device to detect polarization components.

Abstract: An apparatus for polarization state generation and phase control includes a Stokes Basis generator to generate multiple Stokes Bases from one or more input beams, an intensity modulator to modulate an intensity of each of the Stokes Bases, and a beam combiner to combine the modulated Stokes Bases into an output beam. A method of polarization state generation and phase control includes generating multiple Stokes Bases from an input beam; modulating an intensity of each of Stokes Bases; and combining the modulated Stokes Bases into an output beam.

Abstract: The solar cell structure according to the present invention comprises a nanowire (205) that constitutes the light absorbing part of the solar cell structure and a passivating shell (209) that encloses at least a portion of the nanowire (205). In a first aspect of the invention, the passivating shell (209) of comprises a light guiding shell (210), which preferably has a high- and indirect bandgap to provide light guiding properties. In a second aspect of the invention, the solar cell structure comprises a plurality of nanowires which are positioned with a maximum spacing between adjacent nanowires which is shorter than the wavelength of the light which the solar cell structure is intended to absorbing order to provide an effective medium for light absorption. Thanks to the invention it is possible to provide high efficiency solar cell structures.