Complex polarization manipulation with dielectric metasurfaces

Abstract

Metasurfaces are an important, developing part of modern optics. They consist of surface structures designed to shape the incident light beams through arrays of sub-wavelength nano-resonators. In this thesis, I focus on the manipulation and sensing of classical and quantum light using dielectric metasurfaces, comprising of dielectric materials such as amorphous silicon on glass. Dielectric metasurfaces are of exceptional interest due to the minimal material losses as compared to their plasmonic counterparts, for which material losses are an intrinsic part. In particular, polarization of light is of great interest in many aspects of both quantum and classical experiments, extending itself to uses such as communication, quantum communication, and quantum computation, and oft times, particular polarization manipulations are implemented using mechanically complex, space-intensive bulk optics. This is problematic for cases demanding high precision and compactness, such as fundmental quantum optical experiments, space-based installations, and quantum communications. It is thus that in the course of this thesis, I explore a fundamentally new form of polarization manipulation using metasurfaces. This new polarization manipulation concept is known as complex birefringence, and is capable of performing heretofore impossible forms of polarization transformation in a single, monolithic structure. Throughout this thesis, I develop an analytical framework utilizing an optimally minimal amount of loss, and explore it through experimental and numerical methods that this concept can implement truly arbitrary control over polarization in classical and quantum cases, and further demonstrate that this concept may be extended to a new form of polarization monitoring that allows for rapid and highly sensitive response. Finally, I extend similar concepts to the concept of singleshot polarimetry, overcoming challenges that previous approaches had considered fundamental weaknesses.