Photonic Encryption Platform via Dual-Band Vectorial Metaholograms in the Ultraviolet and Visible

Metasurface-driven optical encryption devices have attracted much attention. Here, we propose a dual-band vectorial metahologram in the visible and ultraviolet (UV) regimes for optical encryption. Nine polarization-encoded vectorial holograms are observed under UV laser illumination, while another independent hologram appears under visible laser illumination. The proposed engineered silicon nitride, which is transparent in UV, is employed to demonstrate the UV hologram. Nine holographic images for different polarization states are encoded using a pixelated metasurface. The dual-band metahologram is experimentally implemented by stacking the individual metasurfaces that operate in the UV and visible. The visible hologram can be decrypted to provide the first key, a polarization state, which is used to decode the password hidden in the UV vectorial hologram through the use of an analyzer. Considering the property of UV to be invisible to the naked eye, the multiple polarization channels of the vectorial hologram, and the dual-band decoupling, the demonstrated dual-band vectorial hologram device could be applied in various high-security and anticounterfeiting applications.

Automated summary

This research proposes a dual-band vectorial metahologram for optical encryption in the visible and ultraviolet (UV) regimes. By encoding nine holographic images for different polarization states using a pixelated metasurface, independent holograms can be observed under UV laser and visible laser illumination. This dual-band vectorial hologram device has the potential to be applied in various high-security and anticounterfeiting applications.