Wavelength-insensitive snapshot Stokes polarimetric imaging based on cascaded metasurfaces
Xuanguang Wu, Kai Pan, Xuanyu Wu, Xinhao Fan, Liang Zhou, Chenyang Zhao, Dandan Wen, Sheng Liu, Xuetao Gan, Peng Li, Jianlin Zhao
Abstract
Compact, single-shot, and accurate Stokes polarimetric imagers are highly desirable for imaging at all scales, from remote sensing to biological diagnosis. Recently, polarimetric imaging demonstrated on the metasurface platform is accelerating its realization and revolutionizing associated techniques and imagers. These breakthroughs, however, are greatly limited by the single operating wavelength and the complexity of metasurfaces. We present a minimalist yet powerful cascaded metasurface strategy to realize wavelength-insensitive snapshot Stokes polarimetric imaging. Two cascaded metasurface polarization gratings built into the 4f imaging system enable optical spin Hall momentum shifts and cross-polarization interference of incident light, which are wavelength-robust and free of polarization cross talk, allowing the 4f system to perform accurate and single-shot polarimetric imaging at an arbitrary wavelength and even low-coherence light. We demonstrate the feasibility and robustness of this cascaded metasurface architecture by characterizing diverse polarization objects. We open an avenue for polarimetric imaging and exhibit promising potential in emerging areas of applications such as biological diagnosis.