Integrated metasurfaces for free-space wavefront generation with complete amplitude, phase, and polarization control

A method for converting a waveguide mode into a free-space optical wave with a designer wavefront, comprising:

• a) converting the waveguide mode into a slab waveguide mode using a waveguide taper;
• b) coupling the slab waveguide mode into a leaky-wave metasurface;
• c) decomposing the slab waveguide mode within the leaky-wave metasurface into two orthogonal standing waves that are 90-degree out of phase;
• d) using two sets of meta-atoms of the leaky-wave metasurface to independently convert the two orthogonal standing waves into two surface emissions with independently controllable amplitude and polarization orientation;
• and
• e) merging the two surface emissions into a single free-space wave with completely and independently controllable amplitude, phase, polarization orientation, and polarization ellipticity at each point over the wavefront of the free-space wave.

A method for converting a free-space optical wave with a designer wavefront into a waveguide mode, comprising:

• a) decomposing a free-space wave into two free-space components that are 90-degree out of phase;
• b) using two sets of meta-atoms of the leaky-wave metasurface to independently convert the two free-space components into two orthogonal standing waves that are within the leaky-wave metasurface;
• c) combining two orthogonal standing waves into a slab waveguide mode;
• and
• d) coupling the slab waveguide mode into a waveguide mode using a waveguide taper.