Imaging based on metalenses

• Published in: PhotoniX Vol. 1; no. 1
• Main Authors: Zou, Xiujuan, Zheng, Gaige, Yuan, Quan, Zang, Wenbo, Chen, Run, Li, Tianyue, Li, Lin, Wang, Shuming, Wang, Zhenlin, Zhu, Shining
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Singapore 04-03-2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Efficiency; Engineering; Gold; Light; Microwaves; Propagation; Review; RF and Optical Engineering; Metalens; Optical imaging; Achromatic aberration; Dispersion manipulation
• ISSN: 2662-1991; 2662-1991
• DOI: 10.1186/s43074-020-00007-9

Metalens, a prominent application of two-dimensional metasurfaces, has demonstrated powerful abilities even beyond traditional optical lenses. By manipulating the phase distribution of metalens composed of appropriately arranged nanoscale building blocks, the wavefront of incident wave can be controlled based on Huygens principle, thus achieving the desired reflected and transmitted wave for many different purposes. Metalenses will lead a revolution in optical imaging due to its flat nature and compact size, multispectral acquisition and even off-axis focusing. Here, we review the recent progress of metalenses presenting excellent properties, with a focus on the imaging application using these metalenses. We firstly discuss the mechanism for achieving metalenses with high efficiency, large numerical aperture, controlling the chromatic dispersion or monochromatic aberrations and large area fabrication. Then, we review several important imaging applications including wide-band focusing imaging, polarization dependent imaging, light field imaging and some other significant imaging systems in different areas. Finally, we make a conclusion with an outlook on the future development and challenges of this developing research field.