Dynamical control on helicity of electromagnetic waves by tunable metasurfaces
Top Cited Papers
Open Access
- 8 June 2016
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Scientific Reports
- Vol. 6 (1), 27503
- https://doi.org/10.1038/srep27503
Abstract
Manipulating the polarization states of electromagnetic (EM) waves, a fundamental issue in optics, attracted intensive attention recently. However, most of the devices realized so far are either too bulky in size, and/or are passive with only specific functionalities. Here we combine theory and experiment to demonstrate that, a tunable metasurface incorporating diodes as active elements can dynamically control the reflection phase of EM waves, and thus exhibits unprecedented capabilities to manipulate the helicity of incident circular-polarized (CP) EM wave. By controlling the bias voltages imparted on the embedded diodes, we demonstrate that the device can work in two distinct states. Whereas in the “On” state, the metasurface functions as a helicity convertor and a helicity hybridizer within two separate frequency bands, it behaves as a helicity keeper within an ultra-wide frequency band in the “Off” state. Our findings pave the way to realize functionality-switchable devices related to phase control, such as frequency-tunable subwavelength cavities, anomalous reflectors and even holograms.This publication has 41 references indexed in Scilit:
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