Polarization-Insensitive Beam Splitter with Variable Split Angles and Ratios Based on Phase Gradient Metasurfaces

The beam splitter is a common and critical element in optical systems. Traditional beam splitters composed of prisms or wave plates are difficult to be applied to miniaturized optical systems because they are bulky and heavy. The realization of the nanoscale beam splitter with a flexible function has attracted much attention from researchers. Here, we proposed a polarization-insensitive beam splitter with a variable split angle and ratio based on the phase gradient metasurface, which is composed of two types of nanorod arrays with opposite phase gradients. Different split angles are achieved by changing the magnitude of the phase gradient based on the principle of Snell’s law of refraction, and different split ratios are achieved by adding a phase buffer with different areas. In the designed four types of beam splitters for different functions, the split angle is variable in the range of 12–29°, and the split ratio is variable in the range of 0.1–1. The beam splitter has a high beam splitting efficiency above 0.3 at the wavelength of 480–600 nm and a weak polarization dependence. The proposed beam splitter has the advantages of a small size and easy integration, and it can be applied to various optical systems such as multiplexers and interferometers for integrated optical circuits.