Polarization-multiplexed zoom Moiré metalens for edge-enhanced imaging

Abstract

Optical image processing with high operational efficiency has been applied as a pre-processing imaging system for image recognition. Edge-enhanced imaging as a high-efficiency optical image processing method is of great significance for feature extraction and target recognition. However, the edge-enhanced imaging system based on the 4F system and the spatial filter transforms mainly work under coherent light illumination conditions, without continuously zooming to track the spatial position of the target. Here, we demonstrate a polarization-multiplexed zoom Moiré metalens for edge-enhanced imaging under incoherent light illumination. Metalens is designed to generate polarization-dependent optical transfer functions that produce edge-enhanced images with a resolution of 1.2 µm by digital subtraction. Furthermore, continuous zoom at the range of 1-2× is realized by constructing a Moiré metalens composed of cascaded metasurfaces. The cascaded metasurfaces consist of two center-aligned dielectric metasurfaces, each with a Moiré phase sensitive to the rotation angle. By rotating the metasurface, the phase profile of the cascaded metasurfaces changes, and the effect of continuous zoom is realized. The focal length can be actively changed from 38 µm to 77 µm with the focusing efficiency of 50.3%. This metalens can be applied to machine vision, microscopic imaging, and promotes the development of multi-functional integrated optical systems.