Sub-wavelength optics articles from across Nature Portfolio

Optical singularities are typically 1D structures like vortices. This study used metasurfaces to position ten identical point singularities with tight confinement. This could miniaturize optical systems for super-resolution microscopy and dark traps.

Anisotropic leaky mode, defying the expectation, achieves zero crosstalk, enhancing photonic integration density. Applied in TM mode using subwavelength gratings, coupling length extends 100x.

A new form of directional polaritons, leaky in nature and featuring lenticular dispersion contours, is experimentally observed both in near-field and through prism excitation, unveiling opportunities stemming from the interplay of extreme anisotropic responses, light confinement and directional radiation leakage.

The authors show computationally optimized, multilayer scattering structures in the mid-infrared for high efficiency imaging. Multispectral and polarization sorting devices are fabricated via two-photon lithography and characterized optically.

Authors demonstrate a dispersion engineered set of eight nanostructures capable of providing 0 to 2π full-phase coverage. Their design offers a broadband and polarization-insensitive 90% relative diffraction efficiency from 450 nm to 700 nm in wavelength.