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Engineering phase and polarization singularity sheets

Author

Listed:
  • Soon Wei Daniel Lim

    (Harvard University)

  • Joon-Suh Park

    (Harvard University
    Korea Institute of Science and Technology)

  • Maryna L. Meretska

    (Harvard University)

  • Ahmed H. Dorrah

    (Harvard University)

  • Federico Capasso

    (Harvard University)

Abstract

Optical phase singularities are zeros of a scalar light field. The most systematically studied class of singular fields is vortices: beams with helical wavefronts and a linear (1D) singularity along the optical axis. Beyond these common and stable 1D topologies, we show that a broader family of zero-dimensional (point) and two-dimensional (sheet) singularities can be engineered. We realize sheet singularities by maximizing the field phase gradient at the desired positions. These sheets, owning to their precise alignment requirements, would otherwise only be observed in rare scenarios with high symmetry. Furthermore, by applying an analogous procedure to the full vectorial electric field, we can engineer paraxial transverse polarization singularity sheets. As validation, we experimentally realize phase and polarization singularity sheets with heart-shaped cross-sections using metasurfaces. Singularity engineering of the dark enables new degrees of freedom for light-matter interaction and can inspire similar field topologies beyond optics, from electron beams to acoustics.

Suggested Citation

  • Soon Wei Daniel Lim & Joon-Suh Park & Maryna L. Meretska & Ahmed H. Dorrah & Federico Capasso, 2021. "Engineering phase and polarization singularity sheets," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-24493-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24493-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Georgy Ermolaev & Kirill Voronin & Denis G. Baranov & Vasyl Kravets & Gleb Tselikov & Yury Stebunov & Dmitry Yakubovsky & Sergey Novikov & Andrey Vyshnevyy & Arslan Mazitov & Ivan Kruglov & Sergey Zhu, 2022. "Topological phase singularities in atomically thin high-refractive-index materials," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Soon Wei Daniel Lim & Joon-Suh Park & Dmitry Kazakov & Christina M. Spägele & Ahmed H. Dorrah & Maryna L. Meretska & Federico Capasso, 2023. "Point singularity array with metasurfaces," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.

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