Ultrafast Optical Pulse Shaping using Dielectric Metasurfaces

Published

May 2, 2019

Author(s)

Shawn M. Divitt, Wenqi Zhu, Cheng Zhang, Henri Lezec, Amit Agrawal

Abstract

Simultaneous control of individual frequency-comb lines, and their modulation at the repetition-rate of an ultrafast laser represents the ultimate limit of optical pulse shaping. Remarkable progress in mode-locked lasers and chirped pulse amplifiers promising to reach atto- and zeptosecond pulse lengths with peak powers approaching exa- and even zettawatt levels, will require fundamentally new pulse modulation strategies capable of supporting, simultaneously, the enormous bandwidth and power associated with these pulses while maintaining high spectral resolution. Here, we offer the first experimental demonstration of optical pulse shaping using a dielectric metasurface able to simultaneously control the amplitude, phase and polarization of the various frequency components of an ultrafast pulse. Dielectric metasurfaces offer a low cost, high resolution, high diffraction efficiency, high damage threshold and lithography- friendly alternative to commercial spatial-light-modulators used for controlling ultrafast pulses. By offering the potential for complete spatio-temporal control of optical fields, metasurface based pulse-shapers are expected to have significant impact in the field of ultrafast science and technology.

Citation

Science Magazine

Volume

364

Issue

6443

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aav9632

Local Download

Keywords

Metamaterials, Ultrafast Optics.

Citation

Divitt, S. , Zhu, W. , Zhang, C. , Lezec, H. and Agrawal, A. (2019), Ultrafast Optical Pulse Shaping using Dielectric Metasurfaces, Science Magazine, [online], https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aav9632, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=927172 (Accessed October 10, 2025)