Active multiband varifocal metalenses based on orbital angular momentum division multiplexing.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 35879316.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-022-32044-2 and PMC identifier 9314414.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Metalenses as miniature flat lenses exhibit a substantial potential in replacing traditional optical component. Although the metalenses have been intensively explored, their functions are limited by poor active ability, narrow operating band and small depth of field (DOF). Here, we show a dielectric metalens consisting of TiO<sub>2</sub> nanofins array with ultrahigh aspect ratio to realize active multiband varifocal function. Regulating the orbital angular momentum (OAM) by the phase assignment covering the 2π range, its focal lengths can be switched from 5 mm to 35 mm. This active optical multiplexing uses the physical properties of OAM channels to selectively address and decode the vortex beams. The multiband capability and large DOFs with conversion efficiency of 49% for this metalens are validated for both 532 nm and 633 nm, and the incidence wavelength can further change the focal lengths. This non-mechanical tunable metalens demonstrates the possibility of active varifocal metalenses.