Scattering Analysis and Efficiency Optimization of Dielectric Pancharatnam-Berry-Phase Metasurfaces

In this study, the phase modulation ability of a dielectric Pancharatnam-Berry (PB) phase metasurface, consisting of nanofins, is theoretically analyzed. It is generally considered that the optical thickness of the unit cell of a PB-phase metasurface is lambda/2, i.e., a half-waveplate for polarization conversion. It is found that the lambda/2 is not essential for achieving a full 2 pi modulation. Nevertheless, a lambda/2 thickness is still needed for a high polarization conversion efficiency. Moreover, a gradient phase metasurface is designed. With the help of the particle swarm optimization (PSO) method, the wavefront errors of the gradient phase metasurface are reduced by fine-tuning the rotation angle of the nanofins. The diffraction efficiency of the gradient phase metasurface is thus improved from 73.4% to 87.3%. This design rule can be utilized to optimize the efficiency of phase-type meta-devices, such as meta-deflectors and metalenses.

Automated summary

This study theoretically analyzes the phase modulation ability of a dielectric Pancharatnam-Berry (PB) phase metasurface consisting of nanofins. It is found that lambda/2 thickness is not essential for achieving a full 2 pi modulation, but is still needed for high polarization conversion efficiency. Additionally, a gradient phase metasurface is designed and optimized using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) method to reduce wavefront errors and improve diffraction efficiency.