Metasurfaces and Prospects for the Development of Information Optics

Abstract

Metasurfaces provide a new step in the development of information optics, which continues the stage of multifunctional transformations of light using ultra-thin elements. Unlike the traditional approach based on refractive and diffractive optical elements, metasurfaces use complex arrays of subwavelength structures to control the phase, amplitude and polarization of incident light waves. Metasurfaces are a logical development of elements of diffractive optics, opening up new unique possibilities for light control while simultaneously increasing versatility and multifunctionality, which ensures the formation of new areas of application of photonics, including information optics. This review presents the main applications of metasurfaces in terms of expanding the capabilities of information optics and discusses the problems and prospects for the development of metasurfaces, including those based on tunable devices and using artificial intelligence methods.