Helicity multiplexed broadband metasurface holograms

TLDR

Metasurfaces are engineered nanostructured interfaces that manipulate light, enabling applications from lensing to holography, but practical use of polarization‑multiplexed holograms has been limited by low efficiency and image quality. The study experimentally demonstrates a helicity‑multiplexed metasurface hologram that achieves high efficiency and image fidelity across a broad frequency range. The hologram combines two pattern sets that respond to opposite incident helicities. The device produces two interchangeable off‑axis images controlled by light helicity, demonstrating high performance that enables future switchable optical applications.

Abstract

Metasurfaces are engineered interfaces that contain a thin layer of plasmonic or dielectric nanostructures capable of manipulating light in a desirable manner. Advances in metasurfaces have led to various practical applications ranging from lensing to holography. Metasurface holograms that can be switched by the polarization state of incident light have been demonstrated for achieving polarization multiplexed functionalities. However, practical application of these devices has been limited by their capability for achieving high efficiency and high image quality. Here we experimentally demonstrate a helicity multiplexed metasurface hologram with high efficiency and good image fidelity over a broad range of frequencies. The metasurface hologram features the combination of two sets of hologram patterns operating with opposite incident helicities. Two symmetrically distributed off-axis images are interchangeable by controlling the helicity of the input light. The demonstrated helicity multiplexed metasurface hologram with its high performance opens avenues for future applications with functionality switchable optical devices.