Ultrafast Light Switch Achieved with Asymmetric Silicon Metasurfaces in Nanophotonics

Ultrafast light switch achieved with asymmetric silicon metasurfaces in nanophotonics

In nanophotonics, tiny structures are used to control light at the nanoscale and render it useful for technological applications. A key element here is optical resonators, which trap and amplify light of a certain color (wavelength).

Optical control of resonances in temporally symmetry-broken metasurfaces

Tunability in active metasurfaces has mainly relied on shifting the resonance wavelength1,2 or increasing material losses3,4 to spectrally detune or quench resonant modes, respectively. However, both methods face fundamental limitations, such as a limited Q factor and near-field enhancement control and the inability to achieve resonance on–off switching by completely coupling and decoupling the mode from the far field. Here we demonstrate tempor…

Ultrafast Light Switches: Breakthroughs in Nanophotonics

In the ever-evolving realm of nanophotonics, the manipulation of light at scales thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair has long fascinated scientists and engineers alike. Central to this quest are optical resonators—intricately engineered nanoscale structures capable of capturing and amplifying light at specific wavelengths. Traditionally, efforts to control these optical […]