Will flat optics appear in everyday life anytime soon?

Flat optical components based on metasurfaces will appear in our daily life in the near future. Our discussion focuses on metasurface-based components consisting of sub-wavelength spaced dielectric nanostructures in the optical region. After an introduction to the underlying technology, the advantages of metasurfaces are highlighted and the efforts in the development of metasurface components is discussed. The metasurface not only promises a reduction in the size and complexity of optical components but also brings new functionalities. Examples of achromatic optical components, a full-Stokes metasurface camera, and a metasurface depth sensor with superior performance are highlighted. Finally, future trends and opportunities are discussed.

Automated summary

Metasurface-based flat optical components, consisting of sub-wavelength dielectric nanostructures, offer advantages such as reduced size and complexity while introducing new functionalities. Examples include achromatic optical components, a full-Stokes metasurface camera, and a high-performance metasurface depth sensor. Future trends and opportunities in metasurface development are also discussed.