Unified Aberration Theory for Metalenses: Bridging Classical Optics and Metasurface Technology

Unified Aberration Theory for Metalenses: Bridging Classical Optics and Metasurface Technology | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Unified Aberration Theory for Metalenses: Bridging Classical Optics and Metasurface Technology Zhenrong Zheng This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6598231/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Conventional lenses with mature theoretical foundations and emerging metalenses with distinctive miniaturization advantages are two essentialcomponents in optical systems. However, metalenses face three key challenges: lack of systematic aberration analysis, limited theoretical integration with classical optics, and achieving high image quality despite their ultrathin profiles. We address these challenges with our Unified Aberration Theory for Metalenses (UATM), providing quantitative design guidelines. This theory enables systematic analysis of aberrations originating from the designed phase profile and assessment of discrete implementation effects. By extending the generalized Snell's law to non-radial rays, we develop Seidel-compatible expressions identifying seven fundamental aberration types corresponding to actual optical aberrations. Our approach accurately predicts aberration values and enables coefficient superposition across both technologies, establishing a systematic workflow for hybrid system design that integrates seamlessly with standard optimization tools. The results demonstrate close agreement between theoretical predictions and performance. To demonstrate UATM's effectiveness, we validate it through simulation of three systems: a wide-field dual-metalens, a UV reflective hybrid, and achromatic telescope eyepieces. Additionally, we design a spherical-substrate metalens with wide field-of-view, large aperture, and enhanced chromatic correction across visible wavelengths. In conclusion, UATM bridges conventional and metalens technologies, advancing optical development toward higher integration and enhanced performance. Photonics/optics Metalens Optical aberrations Hybrid optical systems Optical design Metasurface Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6598231","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":452350696,"identity":"c1f222a1-21ab-4d03-852e-484339566b84","order_by":0,"name":"Zhenrong Zheng","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAq0lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYHACxgcMPCA6gXgtzAYka2GTgNDEapHvP/us8ofMYQZ+9hwDhp87iNDC2HDc7IYEz2EGyZ43Boy9Z4jQwszYxnbDAKjF4EaOAZBDhBY2Zja2ggSgFnuitfCwsbExHADZIkGsFgkeNmbJBp50HokzzwoO9hKjRb7/GOPHnz3WcvztyRsf/CRGCxgw9kAi8wCxGoDgBwlqR8EoGAWjYOQBAOwxK2l/4ytrAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4586-6268","institution":"Zhejiang University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Zhenrong","middleName":"","lastName":"Zheng","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-05-06 02:33:27","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":{"humanSubjects":false,"vertebrateSubjects":false,"conflictsOfInterestStatement":false,"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false,"humanSubjectConsent":false,"humanSubjectClinicalTrial":false,"humanSubjectCaseReport":false,"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false},"doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6598231/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6598231/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":82114546,"identity":"e65dd9ee-5de1-43c7-a748-c9caed0f6cc7","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-05-07 02:12:54","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1352294,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"ManuscriptUnifiedAberrationTheoryforMetalensespreprints.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6598231/v1_covered_ecbefc75-6d6a-428f-a7a8-41baa6ad4a79.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eUnified Aberration Theory for Metalenses: Bridging Classical Optics and Metasurface Technology\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"Zhejiang University","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Metalens, Optical aberrations, Hybrid optical systems, Optical design, Metasurface","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6598231/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6598231/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eConventional lenses with mature theoretical foundations and emerging metalenses with distinctive miniaturization advantages are two essentialcomponents in optical systems. 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