Generation of Arbitrarily Programmable Vector Vortex Beams Based on Spin-Independent Metasurface

Abstract

Vectorial structured beam, which possesses diverse inhomogeneous spatial field distributions, has been developed into an advanced technology for particle trapping, optical communication, and quantum information. However, most of the related studies are based on static devices that can only generate structured light with fixed field distributions. To break through this restriction, the study proposes and experimentally demonstrates a reflection-type spin-independent programmable metasurface (SIPM) that can generate arbitrary vector vortex beams (VVBs) dynamically in microwave frequencies. By controlling the working states of loaded positive-intrinsic-negative (PIN) diodes, the metasurface can realize real-time and spin-independent manipulations of amplitude and phase of the reflected waves. Therefore, any desired VVBs can be achieved by dynamically controlling the superimposition of left- and right-handed reflected circularly polarized vortexes. The proposed SIPM exhibits powerful abilities in modulating the vectorial structured beams in the microwave band, and may bring potential technological innovations for the future spintronics, imaging display, optical computing, and wireless communications.