Review of Metasurfaces with Extraordinary Flat Optic Functionalities

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive review of metasurface technology, focusing on its significant role in extraordinary flat optic functionalities. Traditional optical components, though optimized, are bulky and less congruent with modern integrated electromagnetic and photonic systems. Metasurfaces, recognized as the 2D counterparts of bulk metamaterials, offer solutions with their planar, ultra-thin, and lightweight structures. Their meta-atoms are adept at introducing abrupt shifts in optical properties, paving the way for high-precision light manipulation. By introducing the key design principles of these meta-atoms, such as the magnetic dipole and Pancharatnam–Berry phase, various applications in wavefront shaping and beam forming with simple amplitude/phase manipulation and advanced applications including retroreflectors, Janus metasurfaces, multiplexing of optical wavefronts, data encryption, and metasurfaces for quantum applications are reviewed.