Multiple resonant modes coupling enabled strong CD response in a chiral metasurface

The chiral structures with strong circular dichroism (CD) response and narrow linewidth are desirable in chiral sensing, circularly-polarized light detection, and polarization imaging. Here, we theoretically proposed a hybrid chiral metasurface for differential absorption of circularly polarized light. Based on the multiple resonant modes coupling effect in a two-dimensional dielectric slab, it is realizable then to achieve a nearly perfect absorption for right circularly polarized light and simultaneously reflects 90% of left circularly polarized light, suggesting the generation of strong CD of 0.886 within a narrowly spectral linewidth of 4.53 nm. The multipole analysis reveals that the electric dipole, the magnetic dipole, and the electric quadrupole make dominant contributions to chiral absorption and the high CD response in this metsurface. The excitation of guided mode resonance enhances the ability of this metasurface to absorb electric field. Moreover, the optical chirality response can be further manipulated through the geometry features. These findings pave a powerful way to realize the narrowing and strong CD platform for single-band and multiband chirality behaviors.

Automated summary

A hybrid chiral metasurface is proposed for differential absorption of circularly polarized light. The metasurface achieves nearly perfect absorption for right circularly polarized light and simultaneously reflects 90% of left circularly polarized light, generating strong circular dichroism. The dominant contributions to the chiral absorption and high circular dichroism response come from the electric dipole, magnetic dipole, and electric quadrupole.