Infrared polarization multiplexing meta-holography based on a dual-polarization channels meta-pixel

Abstract

Optics metasurfaces have been utilized for research into computer-generated holography imaging and encryption due to their exceptional ability to manipulate fundamental properties of light waves, including polarization, amplitude, and phase. In this study, we proposed a dual-polarization channel (DPCs) meta-pixel to achieve infrared polarization-multiplexed meta-holography. By leveraging the Pancharatnam–Berry phase metasurface, we constructed and imaged the holographic phase information of “NENU” and the school badge at an infrared wavelength of 10.6 μm in the far field. The proposed meta-pixel, consisting of left-handed (LPC) and right-handed (RPC) circularly polarized channels, is designed to control the wavefront. The independence of the DPCs meta-pixel enables a single polarization channel to produce independent imaging. Furthermore, based on polarization decomposition and composition, the imaging intensity of the LPC and RPC reflects the ellipsometric properties of the polarization state. The relative phase and polarization conversion efficiency between LPC and RPC meta-atoms were carefully designed to enable full-polarization meta-holographic imaging. The results demonstrate that DPCs meta-pixels can operate independently or synergistically to achieve infrared polarization meta-holography. This work highlights the potential of infrared meta-holography, utilizing polarization information for enhanced security, and offers promising applications in infrared camouflage, information security, and communication.