Ya-Jun Gao’s research while affiliated with Nanjing University and other places

Traditional optical elements, such as waveplates and polarization beam splitters, are essential for quantum state tomography (QST). Yet, their bulky size and heavy weight are prejudicial for miniaturizing quantum information systems. Here, we introduce nondiffractive silicon metasurfaces with high transmission efficiency to replace the traditional optical elements for QST of polarization-entangled states. Two identical silicon metasurfaces are employed, and each metasurface comprises four independent districts on a micrometer scale. The unit cell of each district consists of two silicon nanopillars with different geometrical sizes and orientation angles, and the interference of the scattered waves from the nanopillars leads to a single output beam from the district with a specific polarization state with a transmission efficiency above 92%. When the two-photon polarization-entangled state shines on different districts of two metasurfaces, each photon of the photon pair interacts with the local nanopillars within the district, and the two-photon state is projected onto 16 polarization bases for state reconstruction. We experimentally demonstrate the reconstruction of four input Bell states with high fidelities. This approach significantly reduces the number of conventional optical components in the QST process and is inspiring for advancing quantum information technology.

Photonic quantum information processing relies on operating the quantum state of photons, which usually involves bulky optical components unfavorable for system miniaturization and integration. Here, we report on the transformation and distribution of polarization-entangled photon pairs with multichannel dielectric metasurfaces. The entangled photon pairs interact with metasurface building blocks, where the geometrical-scaling-induced phase gradients are imposed, and are transformed into two-photon entangled states with the desired polarization. Two metasurfaces, each simultaneously distributing polarization-entangled photons to spatially separated multiple channels M (N), may accomplish M×N channels of entanglement distribution and transformation. Experimentally we demonstrate 2×2 and 4×4 distributed entanglement states, including Bell states and superposition of Bell states, with high fidelity and strong polarization correlation. We expect this approach paves the way for future integration of quantum information networks.

Manipulating the polarization state of light is essential for on-chip photonics and quantum information processing. We demonstrate the generation of different polarization states via a single metasurface based on geometrical-scaling-induced phase modulations.

Manipulation of polarization states with metasurfaces is a compelling approach for on-chip photonics and portable information processing. Yet it remains challenging to generate different types of polarization states with a single piece of a metasurface. This paper demonstrates a metasurface to resolve this issue, which is made of L-shaped resonators with different geometrical sizes. Each resonator diffracts a right- or left-handed circularly polarized state with an additional geometrical-scaling-induced phase. The type of polarization state of each diffracted beam is determined by the enantiomorphism, size, and spatial sequence of the resonators in the unit cell. The number of the beams is modulated by the geometry and separation of the resonators. We provide examples to illustrate how to achieve the specific number of diffracted beams with the desired polarization states in experiments. We suggest that this strategy can be applied for integrated photonics and portable quantum information processing.

Rough surfaces lead to diffused light in both reflection and transmission, thereby blurring the reflected and transmitted images. Here, we merge the traditionally incompatible diffuse reflection and undistorted transmission by introducing the concept of random-flip metasurfaces made of randomly flipped components. These metasurfaces have a globally random phase in reflection that leads to diffuse reflection, while the local space inversion and reciprocity principle ensure distortion-free transmission. Notably, the metasurface reflects like a rough surface yet transmits like a smooth one in a broad spectrum. On the basis of complementary random arrays of gold nanorods, we verified this functionality by both optical spectroscopy and imaging experiments over a broad range of frequencies from the visible to the infrared regime. This feature, which originates from breaking the phase correlation between reflection and transmission by the metasurface, could enable a range of new optical materials and display technology.

Broadband tuning of polarization states is pivotal yet challenging in modern photonics technologies, especially for miniaturized or integrated systems. Metasurfaces potentially provide an effective approach to resolve this challenge. However, once a metadevice is fabricated, its functionalities are determined, and it is hard to actively tune the polarization states. Here, the electrically tunable broadband polarization states by combining phase‐change material (vanadium dioxide) and dispersion‐free metasurface are demonstrated for the first time. The polarization states are modulated through the electrically driven, Joule‐heat‐induced phase transition of vanadium dioxide, where the output polarization state can be continuously tuned from horizontal one to vertical one, or from circular polarization to linear polarization. With accurate on‐chip control of the phase transition, continuous and reversible modulation of polarization is verified in a scanning display. Moreover, a proof‐of‐concept demonstration for dynamically independent control of multiple polarization display is carried out. Different images are produced by applying electrical currents in N separate channels to generate a dynamic multiplexing polarization display with 2N encoding states. Such an active metasurface can be readily integrated with electronics and has potential applications in display, encryption, camouflage, and information processing. Electrically driven tunable broadband polarization states are demonstrated by combining vanadium dioxide and dispersion‐free metasurface. The polarization states of reflected light can be continuously modulated from horizontal polarization to perpendicular polarization or from circular polarization to linear polarization through the electrically tuned phase transition of vanadium dioxide. Such an active metasurface can be applied in display, encryption, and information processing.

Manipulating the polarization state of light is essential for integrated photonics and quantum information technology. By introducing geometrical-scaling-induced phase modulations, we report here the simultaneous generation of different types of polarization states with a single metasurface.

Manipulating the polarization of light on the microscale or nanoscale is essential for integrated photonics and quantum optical devices. Nowadays, the metasurface allows one to build on-chip devices that efficiently manipulate the polarization states. However, it remains challenging to generate different types of polarization states simultaneously, which is required to encode information for quantum computing and quantum cryptography applications. By introducing geometrical-scaling-induced (GSI) phase modulations, we demonstrate that an assembly of circularly polarized (CP) and linearly polarized (LP) states can be simultaneously generated by a single metasurface made of L-shaped resonators with different geometrical features. Upon illumination, each resonator diffracts the CP state with a certain GSI phase. The interaction of these diffractions leads to the desired output beams, where the polarization state and the propagation direction can be accurately tuned by selecting the geometrical shape, size, and spatial sequence of each resonator in the unit cell. As an example of potential applications, we show that an image can be encoded with different polarization profiles at different diffraction orders and decoded with a polarization analyzer. This approach resolves a challenging problem in integrated optics and is inspiring for on-chip quantum information processing.

Manipulating the polarization of light on the micro/nano scale is essential for integrated photonics and quantum optical devices. Nowadays, metasurface allows building on-chip devices that may efficiently manipulate polarization states. However, it remains challenging to generate different types of polarization states simultaneously, which is required for encoding information for quantum computing and quantum cryptography applications. By introducing geometrical-scaling-induced (GSI) phase modulations, we demonstrate here that an assembly of circularly polarized (CP) and linearly polarized (LP) states can be simultaneously generated by a single metasurface made of L-shaped resonators with different geometrical sizes. Upon illumination, each resonator diffracts CP state with a certain GSI phase. The interaction of these diffractions leads to the desired output beams, where the polarization state and the propagation direction can be accurately tuned by selecting the geometrical shape, size and the spatial sequence of each resonator in the unit cell. This approach resolves a challenging problem in integrated optics and is inspiring for on-chip quantum information processing.