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Arbitrary engineering of spatial caustics with 3D-printed metasurfaces

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaoyan Zhou

    (Zhejiang University
    National University of Singapore
    Singapore University of Technology and Design)

  • Hongtao Wang

    (National University of Singapore
    Singapore University of Technology and Design)

  • Shuxi Liu

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Hao Wang

    (Singapore University of Technology and Design)

  • John You En Chan

    (Singapore University of Technology and Design)

  • Cheng-Feng Pan

    (National University of Singapore
    Singapore University of Technology and Design)

  • Daomu Zhao

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Joel K. W. Yang

    (Singapore University of Technology and Design)

  • Cheng-Wei Qiu

    (National University of Singapore)

Abstract

Caustics occur in diverse physical systems, spanning the nano-scale in electron microscopy to astronomical-scale in gravitational lensing. As envelopes of rays, optical caustics result in sharp edges or extended networks. Caustics in structured light, characterized by complex-amplitude distributions, have innovated numerous applications including particle manipulation, high-resolution imaging techniques, and optical communication. However, these applications have encountered limitations due to a major challenge in engineering caustic fields with customizable propagation trajectories and in-plane intensity profiles. Here, we introduce the “compensation phase” via 3D-printed metasurfaces to shape caustic fields with curved trajectories in free space. The in-plane caustic patterns can be preserved or morphed from one structure to another during propagation. Large-scale fabrication of these metasurfaces is enabled by the fast-prototyping and cost-effective two-photon polymerization lithography. Our optical elements with the ultra-thin profile and sub-millimeter extension offer a compact solution to generating caustic structured light for beam shaping, high-resolution microscopy, and light-matter-interaction studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoyan Zhou & Hongtao Wang & Shuxi Liu & Hao Wang & John You En Chan & Cheng-Feng Pan & Daomu Zhao & Joel K. W. Yang & Cheng-Wei Qiu, 2024. "Arbitrary engineering of spatial caustics with 3D-printed metasurfaces," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-48026-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48026-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chenhao Li & Torsten Wieduwilt & Fedja J. Wendisch & Andrés Márquez & Leonardo de S. Menezes & Stefan A. Maier & Markus A. Schmidt & Haoran Ren, 2023. "Metafiber transforming arbitrarily structured light," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Alessandro Zannotti & Cornelia Denz & Miguel A. Alonso & Mark R. Dennis, 2020. "Shaping caustics into propagation-invariant light," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-7, December.
    3. Wei Ting Chen & Joon-Suh Park & Justin Marchioni & Sophia Millay & Kerolos M. A. Yousef & Federico Capasso, 2023. "Dispersion-engineered metasurfaces reaching broadband 90% relative diffraction efficiency," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Abdulhakim Bake & Qi Zhang & Cong Son Ho & Grace L. Causer & Weiyao Zhao & Zengji Yue & Alexander Nguyen & Golrokh Akhgar & Julie Karel & David Mitchell & Zeljko Pastuovic & Roger Lewis & Jared H. Col, 2023. "Top-down patterning of topological surface and edge states using a focused ion beam," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    5. Haoran Ren & Jaehyuck Jang & Chenhao Li & Andreas Aigner & Malte Plidschun & Jisoo Kim & Junsuk Rho & Markus A. Schmidt & Stefan A. Maier, 2022. "An achromatic metafiber for focusing and imaging across the entire telecommunication range," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
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