Broadband Variable Meta-Axicons Based on Nano-Aperture Arrays in a Metallic Film

Metasurfaces are two-dimensional metamaterials composed of a carefully designed series of subwavelength meta-atom (antenna or aperture) arrays. These surfaces can manipulate the phase, amplitude and polarization of output light by changing the shapes and orientations of the meta-atoms on a subwavelength scale. Using these properties, we experimentally demonstrate variable meta-axicons composed of rectangular nano-apertures arranged in several concentric rings that can focus left circularly polarized (LCP) light into a real Bessel beam and defocus right circular polarized (RCP) light to form a virtual beam. A desired phase discontinuity in cross-polarized transmitted light is introduced along the interface by controlling the orientations of the nano-apertures. In addition, the meta-axicons can generate Bessel beams of arbitrary orders by suitable design of the phase profile along the surface. The meta-axicons demonstrate broadband optical properties that can switch the wavelength of the incident light from 690 nm to 1050 nm. These variable meta-axicons open a path towards the development of new applications using integrated beam shaping devices.