Recent advancements in metasurface technology have allowed researchers to create thin, flat optical devices capable of controlling light in an unprecedented way. One of the latest breakthroughs comes from a team at the University of California, Los Angeles, who have developed a “leaky wave metasurface” that can control the propagation of light without requiring any physical interface with the light beam. This revolutionary device could enable new applications in optical communication and imaging, as well as create opportunities for further research in the field of metasurfaces.

The team’s research, published in the journal Nature Photonics, describes the metasurface as a thin, flat, and periodic structure made of an array of nanostructures. These nanostructures interact with light in such a way that it can be directed to travel in a desired direction, without having to be physically contacted. This is made possible by the so-called “leaky wave” effect, whereby the light waves can “leak” through the nanostructures, allowing them to be influenced by the metasurface. By manipulating the size and shape of the nanostructures, the team was able to control the direction and intensity of the light beam.

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source: Phys.org