Reversibly reconfigurable GSST metasurface for broadband beam steering and achromatic focusing in the long-wave infrared

Active optical metasurfaces promise compact, lightweight, and energy-efficient optical systems with unprecedented performance. Chalcogenide phase-change material Ge2Sb2Se4Te1 (GSST) has shown tremendous advantages in the design of mid-infrared active metasurfaces. However, most of the GSST-based active metasurfaces can only work efficiently within a narrow frequency range. Furthermore, their design flexibility and reversible switching capability are severely restricted by the melting of GSST during re-amorphization. Here, we propose broadband, reversibly tunable, GSST-based transmissive metasurfaces operating in the long-wave infrared spectrum, where the GSST micro-rods are cladded by refractory materials. To accurately evaluate the performance of the proposed metasurfaces, two figures of merits are defined: FOM & phi; for the evaluation of wavefront matching, and FOMop for the assessment of the overall performance incorporating both wavefront modulation efficiency and switching contrast ratio. For the proof of concept, two meta-devices are numerically presented: a multifunctional deflector that offers continuous beam steering and long-wave pass filtering simultaneously, and a large-area (1 cm x 1 cm) broadband (11-14 & mu;m) varifocal metalens with the ability of achromatic imaging (12.513.5 & mu;m). In particular, the metalens features high FOMop values over 16 dB in the achromatic band, with the average focusing efficiency approximating 70% (60%) in amorphous (crystalline) state and a spectral switching contrast ratio surpassing 25 dB. Our design scheme provides an additional degree of freedom for dynamic modulation and offers a novel approach for achieving high-efficiency mid-infrared compact optical devices.

Automated summary

This research proposes a broadband, tunable transmissive metasurface based on the phase-change material GSST, which operates in the long-wave infrared spectrum. The metasurface offers design flexibility, reversible switching capability, and high-performance evaluation metrics. The feasibility of the design scheme is demonstrated through numerical simulations of two meta-devices.