Cited by 5,984Metamaterials and Metasurfaces ApplicationsAdvanced Antenna and Metasurface TechnologiesPlasmonic and Surface Plasmon Research

Flat optics with designer metasurfaces

Yu, Nanfang, Capasso, Federico·2014·Nature Materials

Abstract

Conventional optical components such as lenses, waveplates and holograms rely on light propagation over distances much larger than the wavelength to shape wavefronts. In this way substantial changes of the amplitude, phase or polarization of light waves are gradually accumulated along the optical path. This Review focuses on recent developments on flat, ultrathin optical components dubbed 'metasurfaces' that produce abrupt changes over the scale of the free-space wavelength in the phase, amplitude and/or polarization of a light beam. Metasurfaces are generally created by assembling arrays of miniature, anisotropic light scatterers (that is, resonators such as optical antennas). The spacing between antennas and their dimensions are much smaller than the wavelength. As a result the metasurfaces, on account of Huygens principle, are able to mould optical wavefronts into arbitrary shapes with subwavelength resolution by introducing spatial variations in the optical response of the light scatterers. Such gradient metasurfaces go beyond the well-established technology of frequency selective surfaces made of periodic structures and are extending to new spectral regions the functionalities of conventional microwave and millimetre-wave transmit-arrays and reflect-arrays. Metasurfaces can also be created by using ultrathin films of materials with large optical losses. By using the controllable abrupt phase shifts associated with reflection or transmission of light waves at the interface between lossy materials, such metasurfaces operate like optically thin cavities that strongly modify the light spectrum. Technology opportunities in various spectral regions and their potential advantages in replacing existing optical components are discussed.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1038/nmat3839

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114 of 114 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Research areas involving tight focusing, interaction with nanoparticles and subwavelength structures, propagation in nanofibers and metamaterials, near-field optics and plasmonics essentially involve structured fields, mix spatial and polarization degrees of freedom, and exhibit numerous SOI effects.

    “Tight focusing, interaction with nanoparticles and subwavelength structures, propagation in nanofibers and metamaterials, as well as near-field optics and plasmonics all these research areas essentially involve structured fields, mix spatial and polarization degrees of freedom, and, hence, exhibit numerous SOI effects 56 .”

    From Spin–orbit interactions of light (2015) · cites this paper as [56]

  • SOI crucially affects the distributions and properties of every instance of nonparaxial light, including fields interacting with subwavelength structures; SOI phenomena inevitably emerge in numerous nano-optical, plasmonic, and metamaterial systems.

    “These examples show that SOI crucially affects the distributions and properties of every instance of nonparaxial light, including fields interacting with subwavelength structures. As such, SOI phenomena inevitably emerge in numerous nano-optical, plasmonic, and metamaterial systems, all crucially involving subwavelength scales and structures 56 .”

    From Spin–orbit interactions of light (2015) · cites this paper as [56]

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Authors
Yu, N., & Capasso, F.
Affiliations
  • Columbia University (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
  • Yu, Nanfang
  • Capasso, Federico
Venue
Nature Materials
Published
2014-01-23
Volume
13
Issue
2
Pages
139-150
ISSN
  • 1476-1122 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4660
OpenAlex
W2027029957
Cited by
5,984
References
115
Citations by year
2026: 448 · 2025: 515 · 2024: 488 · 2023: 479 · 2022: 534 · 2021: 543 · 2020: 568 · 2019: 602 · 2018: 565 · 2017: 497 · 2016: 409 · 2015: 267 · 2014: 69
FWCI
139.79
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature Materials (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials › Metamaterials and Metasurfaces Applications
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Aerospace Engineering › Advanced Antenna and Metasurface Technologies
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Plasmonic and Surface Plasmon Research
Keywords
metasurfaces, flat optics, wavefront shaping, gradient metasurfaces, optical antennas, optical resonators, frequency selective surface, reflectarray antenna, transmitarray antenna, polarization control, amplitude modulation, Huygens' principle

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