High-performance bifunctional polarization switch chiral metamaterials by inverse design method

Abstract Multifunctional polarization controlling plays an important role in modern photonics, but their designs toward broad bandwidths and high efficiencies are still rather challenging. Here, by applying the inverse design method of model-based theoretical paradigm, we design cascaded chiral metamaterials for different polarization controls in oppositely propagating directions and demonstrate their broadband and high-efficiency performance theoretically and experimentally. Started with the derivation of scattering matrix towards specified polarization control, a chiral metamaterial is designed as a meta-quarter-wave plate for the forward propagating linearly polarized wave, which converts the x- or y-polarized wave into a nearly perfect left- or right-handed circularly polarized wave; intriguingly, it also serves as a 45° polarization rotator for the backward propagating linearly polarized waves. This bifunctional metamaterial shows a high transmission as well as a broad bandwidth due to the Fabry–Perot-like interference effect. Using the similar approach, an abnormal broadband meta-quarter-wave plate is achieved to convert the forward x- and y-polarized or the backward y- and x-polarized waves into left- and right-handed circularly polarized waves with high transmission efficiencies. The integration of multiple functions in a single structure endows the cascaded chiral metamaterials with great interests for the high-efficiency polarization-controlled applications.