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High quality(Q) factor optical resonators are indispensable for many photonic devices. While very large Q-factors can be obtained theoretically in guided-mode settings, free-space implementations suffer from various limitations on the narrowest linewidth in real experiments. Here, we propose a simple strategy to enable ultrahigh-Q guided-mode resonances by introducing a patterned perturbation layer on top of a multilayer-waveguide system. We demonstrate that the associated Q-factors are inversely proportional to the perturbation squared while the resonant wavelength can be tuned through material or structural parameters. We experimentally demonstrate such high-Q resonances at telecom wavelengths by patterning a low-index layer on top of a 220 nm silicon on insulator substrate. The measurements show Q-factors up to 2.39 × 10 5 , comparable to the largest Q-factor obtained by topological engineering, while the resonant wavelength is tuned by varying the lattice constant of the top perturbation layer. Our results hold great promise for exciting applications like sensors and filters. The authors report a simple strategy to enable ultrahigh-Q guided-mode resonances by introducing a patterned perturbation layer on top of a multilayer-waveguide system. Such high-Q resonances are experimentally demonstrated with measured Q-factors up to 2.4 × 10 5 .

Contemporary studies in polarization multiplexing are hindered by the intrinsic orthogonality constraints of polarization states, which restrict the scope of multiplexing channels and their practical applications. This research transcends these barriers by introducing an innovative nonorthogonal polarization-basis multiplexing approach. Utilizing spatially varied eigen-polarization states within metaatoms, we successfully reconstruct globally nonorthogonal channels that exhibit minimal crosstalk. This method not only facilitates the generation of free-vector holograms, achieving complete degrees-of-freedom in three nonorthogonal channels with ultra-low energy leakage, but it also significantly enhances the dimensions of the Jones matrix, expanding it to a groundbreaking 10 × 10 scale. The fusion of a controllable eigen-polarization engineering mechanism with a vectorial diffraction neural network culminates in the experimental creation of 55 intricate holographic patterns across these expanded channels. This advancement represents a profound shift in the field of polarization multiplexing, unlocking opportunities in advanced holography and quantum encryption, among other applications. Recent advances in metasurface have expanded holographic capabilities. Here, authors introduce a nonorthogonal polarization multiplexing strategy using spatially varied eigen-polarization states in metaatoms to achieve 55-channel holography, unlocking the holographic information capacity.

In the domain of spectroscopy, miniaturization efforts often face significant challenges, particularly in achieving high spectral resolution and precise construction. Here, we introduce a computational spectrometer powered by a nonlinear photonic memristor with a WSe 2 homojunction. This approach overcomes traditional limitations, such as constrained Fermi level tunability, persistent dark current, and limited photoresponse dimensionality through dynamic energy band modulation driven by palladium (Pd) ion migration. The critical role of Pd ion migration is thoroughly supported by first-principles calculations, numerical simulations, and experimental verification, demonstrating its effectiveness in enhancing device performance. Additionally, we integrate this dynamic modulation with a specialized nonlinear neural network tailored to address the memristor’s inherent nonlinear photoresponse. This combination enables our spectrometer to achieve an exceptional peak wavelength accuracy of 0.18 nm and a spectral resolution of 2 nm within the 630–640 nm range. This development marks a significant advancement in the creation of compact, high-efficiency spectroscopic instruments and offers a versatile platform for applications across diverse material systems.

Objects with different shapes, materials and temperatures can emit distinct polarizations and spectral information in mid-infrared band, which provides a unique signature in the transparent window for object identification. However, the crosstalk among various polarization and wavelength channels prevents from accurate mid-infrared detections at high signal-to-noise ratio. Here, we report full-polarization metasurfaces to break the inherent eigen-polarization constraint over the wavelengths in mid-infrared. This recipe enables to select arbitrary orthogonal polarization basis at individual wavelength independently, therefore alleviating the crosstalk and efficiency degradation. A six-channel all-silicon metasurface is specifically presented to project focused mid-infrared light to distinct positions at three wavelengths, each with a pair of arbitrarily chosen orthogonal polarizations. An isolation ratio of 117 between neighboring polarization channels is experimentally recorded, exhibiting detection sensitivity one order of magnitude higher than existing infrared detectors. Remarkably, the high aspect ratio ~30 of our meta-structures manufactured by deep silicon etching technology at temperature −150 °C guarantees the large and precise phase dispersion control over a broadband from 3 to 4.5 μm. We believe our results would benefit the noise-immune mid-infrared detections in remote sensing and space-to-ground communications. Dispersive eigen-polarization engineering enabled polychromatic full-polarization control in mid-infrared.

Ultrahigh-Q optical resonances are the cornerstone of next-generation nanophotonic technologies, but their simultaneous realization of robustness and on-chip practicality remains a significant challenge. In this work, we present tetramer composite metasurfaces capable of supporting two distinct classes of ultrahigh-Q resonances: centroid symmetry-protected bound states in the continuum (SP-BICs) and area-conserved guided-mode resonances (GMRs). By employing a four-hole supercell design, we demonstrate that centering each hole within its subcell preserves C 4v symmetry, thereby enabling SP-BICs. Controlled lateral displacement transforms them into quasi-BICs with Q > 10⁶. Independently, enforcing diagonal-hole area conservation within the super unit cell generates degenerate GMRs with Q > 10⁸, which exhibit remarkable stability across a broad wave vector range. Breaking this area conservation splits the GMRs into paired ultrahigh-Q resonances, while adjusting the center-to-center distance of air holes lifts their degeneracy. Experimentally, we validate both resonance types using silicon photonic crystal slabs, achieving measured Q-factors exceeding 10,000, with a maximum value of 43,700. Such ultrahigh-Q composite-metasurfaces provide a versatile platform of enhancing light-matter interactions. We report two distinct classes of ultrahigh-Q resonances-centroid symmetry-protected bound states in the continuum, and area-conserved guided-mode resonances in tetramer metasurfaces.

Benefiting from the inherent capacity for detecting longer wavelengths inaccessible to human eyes, infrared photodetectors have found numerous applications in both military and daily life, such as individual combat weapons, automatic driving sensors and night-vision devices. However, the imperfect material growth and incomplete device manufacturing impose an inevitable restriction on the further improvement of infrared photodetectors. The advent of artificial microstructures, especially metasurfaces, featuring with strong light field enhancement and multifunctional properties in manipulating the light–matter interactions on subwavelength scale, have promised great potential in overcoming the bottlenecks faced by conventional infrared detectors. Additionally, metasurfaces exhibit versatile and flexible integration with existing detection semiconductors. In this paper, we start with a review of conventionally bulky and recently emerging two-dimensional material-based infrared photodetectors, i.e., InGaAs, HgCdTe, graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides and black phosphorus devices. As to the challenges the detectors are facing, we further discuss the recent progress on the metasurfaces integrated on the photodetectors and demonstrate their role in improving device performance. All information provided in this paper aims to open a new way to boost high-performance infrared photodetectors.

Recent advances in the physics and technology of light generation via free-electron proximity and impact interactions with nanostructures (gratings, photonic crystals, nano-undulators, metamaterials and antenna arrays) have enabled the development of nanoscale-resolution techniques for such applications as mapping plasmons, studying nanoparticle structural transformations and characterizing luminescent materials (including time-resolved measurements). Here, we introduce a universal approach allowing generation of light with prescribed wavelength, direction, divergence and topological charge via point-excitation of holographic plasmonic metasurfaces. It is illustrated using medium-energy free-electron injection to generate highly-directional visible to near-infrared light beams, at selected wavelengths in prescribed azimuthal and polar directions, with brightness two orders of magnitude higher than that from an unstructured surface, and vortex beams with topological charge up to ten. Such emitters, with micron-scale dimensions and the freedom to fully control radiation parameters, offer novel applications in nano-spectroscopy, nano-chemistry and sensing. Controlling the generation of light in nano-scale systems is a challenging task and is of growing importance. Here, Li et al . propose a means of controlling the wavefront of light emanating from a single nano scale emitter by holographic principles using a plasmonic metasurface.

As an elementary particle, a photon that carries information in frequency, polarization, phase, and amplitude, plays a crucial role in modern science and technology. However, how to retrieve the full information of unknown photons in an ultracompact manner over broad bandwidth remains a challenging task with growing importance. Here, we demonstrate a versatile photonic slide rule based on an all-silicon metasurface that enables us to reconstruct incident photons’ frequency and polarization state. The underlying mechanism relies on the coherent interactions of frequency-driven phase diagrams which rotate at various angular velocities within broad bandwidth. The rotation direction and speed are determined by the topological charge and phase dispersion. Specifically, our metasurface leverages both achromatically focusing and azimuthally evolving phases with topological charges +1 and −1 to ensure the confocal annular intensity distributions. The combination of geometric phase and interference holography allows the joint manipulations of two distinct group delay coverages to realize angle-resolved in-pair spots in a transverse manner- a behavior that would disperse along longitudinal direction in conventional implementations. The spin-orbital coupling between the incident photons and vortex phases provides routing for the simultaneous identification of the photons’ frequency and circular polarization state through recognizing the spots’ locations. Our work provides an analog of the conventional slide rule to flexibly characterize the photons in an ultracompact and multifunctional way and may find applications in integrated optical circuits or pocketable devices.Metasurface-based photonic slide rule enables the simultaneous resolving of unknown photons’ wavelength and polarization state in mid-infrared.

HgCdTe avalanche photodiodes promise various fascinating applications due to the outstanding capability of detecting weak signals or even single photon. However, the underlying transport mechanisms of diverse dark current components are still unresolved at high reverse bias, thus limiting the development of high-performance devices. Here, we establish an accurate model to demonstrate the competitive mechanism between band-to-band and avalanche dark currents in positive-intrinsic-negative structures. Based on the high consistency between the simulated and measured results, we find that both components jointly dominate overall dark current but with a larger avalanche current. This breaks the conventional cognition that band-to-band dark current contributes the majority. With the guidance, we reconstruct an optimized device and achieve gain 1876 (6153) and dark current 10−10 (10−9) A at bias −10 (−10.5) V, respectively. Comparisons of dark current and gain with reported single-element devices further confirm the outstanding performance of our device.

Owing to the large built‐in field for efficient charge separation, heterostructures facilitate the simultaneous realization of a low dark current and high photocurrent. The lack of an efficient approach to engineer the depletion region formed across the interfaces of heterojunctions owing to doping differences hinders the realization of high‐performance van der Waals (vdW) photodetectors. This study proposes a ferroelectric‐controlling van der Waals photodetector with vertically stacked two‐dimensional (2D) black phosphorus (BP)/indium selenide (In2Se3) to realize high‐sensitivity photodetection. The depletion region can be reconstructed by tuning the polarization states generated from the ferroelectric In2Se3 layers. Further, the energy bands at the heterojunction interfaces can be aligned and flexibly engineered using ferroelectric field control. Fast response, self‐driven photodetection, and three‐orders‐of‐magnitude detection improvements are achieved in the switchable visible or near‐infrared operation bands. The results of the study are expected to aid in improving the photodetection performance of vdW optoelectronic devices. A ferroelectric‐enabled van der Waals (vdWs) heterojunction through vertically stacking α‐In2Se3 and black phosphorus (BP) is reported. The energy bands at the heterojunction interfaces can be aligned and flexibly engineered. Fast‐response, self‐driven photodetection, and three‐orders of magnitude detection improvement are achieved in the switchable visible or near‐infrared bands. This work provides a feasible method for the performance improvement of vdWs optoelectronic devices.