Toward the capacity limit of 2D planar Jones matrix with a single-layer metasurface

The Jones matrix is a useful tool to deal with polarization problems, and its number of degrees of freedom (DOFs) that can be manipulated represents its polarization-controlled capabilities. A metasurface is a planar structure that can control light in a desired manner, which, however, has a limited number of controlled DOFs (<= 4) in the Jones matrix. Here, we propose a metasurface design strategy to construct a Jones matrix with six DOFs, approaching the upper-limit number of a 2D planar structure. We experimentally demonstrate several polarization functionalities that can only be achieved with high (five or six) DOFs of the Jones matrix, such as polarization elements with independent amplitude and phase tuning along its fast and slow axes, triple-channel complex-amplitude holography, and triple sets of printing-hologram integrations. Our work provides a platform to design arbitrary complex polarization elements, which paves the way to a broader exploitation of polarization optics.

Automated summary

By proposing a new metasurface design strategy, we constructed a Jones matrix with six degrees of freedom, enabling various polarization functionalities that can only be achieved with high degrees of freedom. This provides a platform for designing arbitrary complex polarization elements and broadens the application of polarization optics.