Wide-Angle Optical Metasurface for Vortex Beam Generation

In this work, we have achieved an advancement by integrating wide-angle capacity into vortex beams with an impressive topological charge (TC) of 12. This accomplishment was realized through the meticulous engineering of a propagation-phase-designed metasurface. Comprising gallium nitride (GaN), meta-structures characterized by their high-aspect ratio, this metasurface exhibits an average co-polarization transmission efficiency, reaching a remarkable simulated value of up to 97%. The intricate spiral patterns, along with their respective quantification, have been meticulously investigated through tilt-view scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and were further analyzed through the Mach-Zehnder interferometer. A captivating revelation emerged, a distinctive petal-like interference pattern manifests prior to the metasurface's designed focal distance. The occurrence of this petal-like pattern at a specific z-axis position prompts a deliberate manipulation of the helicity of the spiral branches. This strategic helicity alteration is intrinsically tied to the achievement of a minimized donut diameter at the designed focal length. In regard to the angular capability of the device, the captured images continuously showcase prominent attributes within incident angles spanning up to 30 degrees. However, as incident angles surpass the 30-degree threshold, the measured values diverge from their corresponding theoretical projections, resulting in a progressive reduction in the completeness of the donut-shaped structure.

Automated summary

In this work, wide-angle capacity is integrated into vortex beams with a high topological charge through the engineering of a metasurface. Spiral patterns and their helicity alterations are meticulously investigated and analyzed, revealing a petal-like interference pattern and the achievement of design objectives. The importance of device angular capability is also emphasized.