Highly Efficient Broadband Multiplexed Millimeter-Wave Vortices from Metasurface-Enabled Transmit-Arrays of Subwavelength Thickness

Zhi Hao Jiang, Lei Kang, Wei Hong, Douglas H. Werner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

64 Scopus citations

Abstract

Structured electromagnetic waves carrying nonvanishing orbital angular momentum (OAM) have recently opened up alternative frontiers in the field of wave physics, holding great promise for a wide range of potential applications. By leveraging geometric phases originating from spin-to-orbital interactions, spin-dependent wave phenomena can be created, leading to a more versatile realm of dispersionless wave-front manipulation. However, the currently available transmissive vortex-beam generators suffer from a narrow bandwidth, require an optically thick device profile, or are limited by a low efficiency, severely restricting their integration into systems and/or widespread usage for practical applications. We present the design methodology and a physical analysis and complete experimental characterization of a class of millimeter-wave Pancharatnam-Berry transmit-arrays with a thickness of about λ0/3, which enables highly efficient generation and separation of spin-controlled vortex beams over a broad bandwidth, achieving an unprecedented peak efficiency of 88% for a single vortex beam and 71% for dual vortex beams. The proposed transmit-array, which is capable of providing two-dimensional OAM multiplexing and demultiplexing without normal-mode background interference, overcomes all previous roadblocks and paves the way for high-efficiency electromagnetic vortex-beam generation as well as other wave-front-shaping devices from microwave frequencies to optical wavelengths.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number064009
JournalPhysical Review Applied
Volume9
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 8 2018

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Physics and Astronomy(all)

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