Columbia Engineering researchers have developed a new class of integrated photonic devices--“leaky-wave metasurfaces”--that convert light initially confined in an optical waveguide to an arbitrary optical pattern in free space. These are the first to demonstrate simultaneous control of all four optical degrees of freedom, setting a world record. Because they’re so thin, transparent, and compatible with photonic integrated circuits, they can be used to improve optical displays, LIDAR, optical communications, and quantum optics.

Related Keywords

New York , United States , Columbia University , Cheng Chia Tsai , Adamc Overvig , Stephaniec Malek , Heqing Huang , Andrea Al , Nanfang Yu , National Science Foundation , Science Research Center Nanofabrication Facility , Science Research Center , Photonics Initiative , Research Fellowship Program , Simons Foundation , Department Of Applied Physics , Columbia Nano Initiative , Physics Program , Office Of Scientific Research , City University Of New York , Light Detection , Graduate Center , City University , Applied Physics , Applied Mathematics , Advanced Science Research Center , Air Force Office , Scientific Research ,