Metasurface-based mirrors allow optical cavities to bend and trap light in new ways, improving sharpness and sensitivity.

You have probably used a laser pointer, but have you ever wondered how such a small device produces a powerful, focused beam of light? The secret lies in the optical cavity, a space enclosed by two or more mirrors that trap light and amplify it through constructive interference. Inside, light waves bounce back and forth between the mirrors, reinforcing each other until they form a concentrated beam.

These cavities are rising stars in the field of optics; even simple designs, such as the Fabry-Pérot cavity consisting of just two mirrors separated by a gap, could become critical components of the biosensing and telecommunications devices of tomorrow.

Seeking to enhance their performance, Gandhi Alagappan, a Principal Scientist II at the A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*STAR SRL), who was formerly at the A*STAR Institute of High Performance Computing (A*STAR IHPC), explored a fresh approach: replacing conventional mirrors with resonant metasurfaces...

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