Longitudinal Multi-Channel Focused Vortex and Vector Beams Generation by Quarter-Wave Plate Meta-Atom Metasurfaces

Metasurface-based longitudinal modulation introduces the propagation distance as a new degree of freedom, extending the light modulation with metasurfaces from 2D to 3D space. However, relevant longitudinal studies have been constrained to designing the metasurface of half-wave plate (HWP) meta-atom...

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Main Authors: Teng Ma, Kaixin Zhao, Manna Gu, Haoyan Zhou, Chunxiang Liu, Chuanfu Cheng, Qingrui Dong, Li Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Nanomaterials
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/5/324
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author Teng Ma
Kaixin Zhao
Manna Gu
Haoyan Zhou
Chunxiang Liu
Chuanfu Cheng
Qingrui Dong
Li Ma
author_facet Teng Ma
Kaixin Zhao
Manna Gu
Haoyan Zhou
Chunxiang Liu
Chuanfu Cheng
Qingrui Dong
Li Ma
author_sort Teng Ma
collection DOAJ
description Metasurface-based longitudinal modulation introduces the propagation distance as a new degree of freedom, extending the light modulation with metasurfaces from 2D to 3D space. However, relevant longitudinal studies have been constrained to designing the metasurface of half-wave plate (HWP) meta-atoms and generating either non-focused or two-channel vortex and vector beams. In this study, we propose a metasurface composed of quarter-wave plate (QWP) meta-atoms to generate the longitudinal multi-channel focused vortex and vector beams. The metasurface consists of two interleaved sub-metasurfaces of QWP meta-atoms. For each sub-metasurface, the helical and hyperbolic phase profiles are designed independently in the propagation and geometric phases to generate focused co- and cross-polarized vortices with corresponding topological charges. Under the illumination of <i>x</i>-linearly polarized light, the metasurface generates two circularly polarized vortices, two linearly polarized vortices, and one vector beam on five focal planes. Theoretical analysis and simulation results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed QWP metasurface. Our study presents a significant advancement in the development of integrated and multifunctional optical devices and systems, with significant potential applications in light–matter interaction, laser processing, and optical communication.
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issn 2079-4991
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publisher MDPI AG
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series Nanomaterials
spelling doaj-art-0451fcc783e94c6e88f4a26bca86338e2025-08-20T02:59:15ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912025-02-0115532410.3390/nano15050324Longitudinal Multi-Channel Focused Vortex and Vector Beams Generation by Quarter-Wave Plate Meta-Atom MetasurfacesTeng Ma0Kaixin Zhao1Manna Gu2Haoyan Zhou3Chunxiang Liu4Chuanfu Cheng5Qingrui Dong6Li Ma7School of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, ChinaSchool of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, ChinaSchool of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, ChinaSchool of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, ChinaSchool of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, ChinaSchool of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, ChinaSchool of Physics and Electronics, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, ChinaDepartment of Physics, Changzhi University, Changzhi 046011, ChinaMetasurface-based longitudinal modulation introduces the propagation distance as a new degree of freedom, extending the light modulation with metasurfaces from 2D to 3D space. However, relevant longitudinal studies have been constrained to designing the metasurface of half-wave plate (HWP) meta-atoms and generating either non-focused or two-channel vortex and vector beams. In this study, we propose a metasurface composed of quarter-wave plate (QWP) meta-atoms to generate the longitudinal multi-channel focused vortex and vector beams. The metasurface consists of two interleaved sub-metasurfaces of QWP meta-atoms. For each sub-metasurface, the helical and hyperbolic phase profiles are designed independently in the propagation and geometric phases to generate focused co- and cross-polarized vortices with corresponding topological charges. Under the illumination of <i>x</i>-linearly polarized light, the metasurface generates two circularly polarized vortices, two linearly polarized vortices, and one vector beam on five focal planes. Theoretical analysis and simulation results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed QWP metasurface. Our study presents a significant advancement in the development of integrated and multifunctional optical devices and systems, with significant potential applications in light–matter interaction, laser processing, and optical communication.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/5/324metasurfacevortex and vector beamslongitudinal multi-channelquarter-wave plate
spellingShingle Teng Ma
Kaixin Zhao
Manna Gu
Haoyan Zhou
Chunxiang Liu
Chuanfu Cheng
Qingrui Dong
Li Ma
Longitudinal Multi-Channel Focused Vortex and Vector Beams Generation by Quarter-Wave Plate Meta-Atom Metasurfaces
Nanomaterials
metasurface
vortex and vector beams
longitudinal multi-channel
quarter-wave plate
title Longitudinal Multi-Channel Focused Vortex and Vector Beams Generation by Quarter-Wave Plate Meta-Atom Metasurfaces
title_full Longitudinal Multi-Channel Focused Vortex and Vector Beams Generation by Quarter-Wave Plate Meta-Atom Metasurfaces
title_fullStr Longitudinal Multi-Channel Focused Vortex and Vector Beams Generation by Quarter-Wave Plate Meta-Atom Metasurfaces
title_full_unstemmed Longitudinal Multi-Channel Focused Vortex and Vector Beams Generation by Quarter-Wave Plate Meta-Atom Metasurfaces
title_short Longitudinal Multi-Channel Focused Vortex and Vector Beams Generation by Quarter-Wave Plate Meta-Atom Metasurfaces
title_sort longitudinal multi channel focused vortex and vector beams generation by quarter wave plate meta atom metasurfaces
topic metasurface
vortex and vector beams
longitudinal multi-channel
quarter-wave plate
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/5/324
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