Full-Stokes Polarimetry for Visible Light Enabled by an All-Dielectric Metasurface

Decoding arbitrary polarization information from an optical field has triggered unprecedented endeavors in polarization imaging, remote sensing, and information processing. Therefore, developing a polarization detection device with full on-chip integration and miniaturization holds tremendous potential for many areas of optical sciences. Herein, a full-Stokes polarimetry device for visible light based on an all-dielectric metasurface is proposed. By combining both geometric phase and propagation phase modulation, the metasurface to provide two uncorrelated phase profiles for the two orthogonal states of input polarization is designed, which is then used to spatially separate the various polarization states of incident light. Through the use of a millimeter-scale multiplexed metasurface array, successful characterization of the full polarization distribution of spacevariant polarization fields is further achieved. This proof-of-concept ultracompact and ultrathin metasurface is expected to open new pathways in full-Stokes polarization detection, machine vision, and navigation.

Automated summary

Decoding arbitrary polarization information in holographic imaging is of great significance in polarization imaging, remote sensing, and information processing. Developing a polarization detection device with full on-chip integration and miniaturization has tremendous potential in various fields of optical sciences.