Dual-functional metalenses for structured light generation

Over the past few years, the optics and photonics field has faced a challenge in developing the capability to produce structured light with arbitrary controlled polarization in a compact optical path. Our research addresses this challenge by presenting a novel approach involving the design of dielectric dual-functional metaoptics. These miniature, high-resolution metaoptics can generate custom elliptical orbital angular momentum beams with varied behaviors based on the input light's polarization. Our approach enhances the compactness of optical paths and facilitates seamless integration with other optical elements. Specifically, the proposed metaoptics exhibit suitability for applications in particle manipulation, microscopy, high-capacity communications, and security by contributing to complex structured light generation.