Decoupling optical function and geometrical form using conformal flexible dielectric metasurfaces

Seyedeh Mahsa Kamali, Amir Arbabi, Ehsan Arbabi, Yu Horie and Andrei Faraon ()
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Seyedeh Mahsa Kamali: T. J. Watson Laboratory of Applied Physics, Kavli Nanoscience Institute, California Institute of Technology
Amir Arbabi: T. J. Watson Laboratory of Applied Physics, Kavli Nanoscience Institute, California Institute of Technology
Ehsan Arbabi: T. J. Watson Laboratory of Applied Physics, Kavli Nanoscience Institute, California Institute of Technology
Yu Horie: T. J. Watson Laboratory of Applied Physics, Kavli Nanoscience Institute, California Institute of Technology
Andrei Faraon: T. J. Watson Laboratory of Applied Physics, Kavli Nanoscience Institute, California Institute of Technology

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Physical geometry and optical properties of objects are correlated: cylinders focus light to a line, spheres to a point and arbitrarily shaped objects introduce optical aberrations. Multi-functional components with decoupled geometrical form and optical function are needed when specific optical functionalities must be provided while the shapes are dictated by other considerations like ergonomics, aerodynamics or aesthetics. Here we demonstrate an approach for decoupling optical properties of objects from their physical shape using thin and flexible dielectric metasurfaces which conform to objects’ surface and change their optical properties. The conformal metasurfaces are composed of silicon nano-posts embedded in a polymer substrate that locally modify near-infrared (λ=915 nm) optical wavefronts. As proof of concept, we show that cylindrical lenses covered with metasurfaces can be transformed to function as aspherical lenses focusing light to a point. The conformal metasurface concept is highly versatile for developing arbitrarily shaped multi-functional optical devices.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11618

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