Metasurface-based optical signal manipulation devices for optical fiber communications

An apparatus comprising:

• a fiber input, the fiber input comprising a plurality of input fiber cores, the plurality of input fiber cores receiving a plurality of input optical signals;
• an optical signal manipulation device, the optical signal manipulation device comprising:
• an input aperture held in spaced relation to the fiber input to receive the plurality of input optical signals in a first spatial arrangement;
• a plurality of metasurfaces, each of the plurality of metasurfaces comprising a plurality of nanostructures separated from one another by less than a wavelength of the plurality of input optical signals;
• and
• an output aperture, wherein the plurality of metasurfaces manipulate phase profiles of the plurality of input optical signals to generate a plurality of output optical signals, wherein the plurality of output optical signals have a second spatial arrangement at the output aperture that differs from the first spatial arrangement;
• and
• a fiber output comprising a plurality of output fiber cores, wherein the fiber output is held in spaced relation to the output aperture of the optical signal manipulation device such that the plurality of output fiber cores receive the plurality of output optical signals in the second spatial arrangement, wherein the optical signal manipulation device comprises one of a fiber mode shuffler, a fiber coupler, a power splitter, or a 90-degree optical hybrid,
• wherein at least two metasurfaces are disposed on opposite surfaces of a shared transmissive substrate, and wherein the at least two metasurfaces are configured to modify wavefront tilts of the plurality of input optical signals in a shared propagation direction toward the output aperture of the optical signal manipulation device.