Versatile on-chip light coupling and(de)multiplexing from arbitrary polarizations to controlled waveguide modes using an integrated dielectric metasurface

Metasurfaces have found broad applicability in free-space optics,while its potential to tailor guided waves remains barely explored.By synergizing the Jones matrix model with generalized Snell’s law under the phase-matching condition,we propose a universal design strategy for versatile on-chip mode-selective coupling with polarization sensitivity,multiple working wavelengths,and high efficiency concurrently.The coupling direction,operation frequency,and excited mode type can be designed at will for arbitrary incident polarizations,outperforming previous technology that only works for specific polarizations and lacks versatile mode controllability.Here,using silicon-nanoantenna-patterned silicon-nitride photonic waveguides,we numerically demonstrate a set of chip-scale optical couplers around 1.55μm,including mode-selective directional couplers with high coupling efficiency over 57%and directivity about 23 d B.Polarization and wavelength demultiplexer scenarios are also proposed with 67%maximum efficiency and an extinction ratio of 20 d B.Moreover,a chip-integrated twisted light generator,coupling free-space linear polarization into an optical vortex carrying 1 h orbital angular momentum(OAM),is also reported to validate the mode-control flexibility.This comprehensive method may motivate compact wavelength/polarization(de)multiplexers,multifunctional mode converters,on-chip OAM generators for photonic integrated circuits,and high-speed optical telecommunications.

Topologically tuned terahertz confinement in a nonlinear photonic chip

Compact terahertz(THz)functional devices are greatly sought after for high-speed wireless communication,biochemical sensing,and non-destructive inspection.However,controlled THz generation,along with transport and detection,has remained a challenge especially for chip-scale devices due to low-coupling efficiency and unavoidable absorption losses.Here,based on the topological protection of electromagnetic waves,we demonstrate nonlinear generation and topologically tuned confinement of THz waves in an engineered lithium niobate chip forming a wedge-shaped Su-Schrieffer-Heeger lattice.Experimentally measured band structures provide direct visualization of the THz localization in the momentum space,while robustness of the confined mode against chiral perturbations is also analyzed and compared for both topologically trivial and nontrivial regimes.Such topological control of THz waves may bring about new possibilities in the realization of THz integrated circuits,promising for advanced photonic applications.