Topological Space‐Time Photonic Transitions in Angular‐Momentum‐Biased Metasurfaces

Abstract In this paper, topological space‐time photonic transition of light in angular‐momentum‐biased metasurfaces is established, which yields a superposition of orbital‐angular‐momentum (OAM)‐carrying beams at distinct frequency harmonics upon scattering whose topological charges and frequency shifts are correlated. A reflective dielectric metasurface is considered that consists of silicon nanodisk heterostructures integrated with indium‐tin‐oxide and gate dielectric layers placed on a back mirror forming a dual‐gated field effect modulator. The metasurface is divided into several azimuthal sections wherein the nanodisk heterostructures are interconnected via biasing lines. Addressing each azimuthal section with radio‐frequency biasing signals separately allows for flexible implementation of different spatiotemporal modulation profiles. Active tuning of OAM states with high mode‐purity is demonstrated, which yields minimal cross‐talk between OAM channels in a mode‐multiplexed communication system. Moreover, the role of spatiotemporal modulation profile on the spectral and spatial diversity of OAM states is explored. It is shown that angular‐momentum‐biased metasurfaces allow opportunities for hybridized mode‐division and wavelength‐division multiple access through multiplexing and multicasting across distinct OAM states and wavelengths. The nonreciprocity of topological space‐time photonic transitions across the temporal frequency domain and Hilbert space of OAM states is also investigated giving rise to distinct twisted light channels in up‐ and down‐links.