Overcoming Barriers to Dynamic Phase-only Modulation in Transmissive Metasurfaces via Diffraction Control

Overcoming Barriers to Dynamic Phase-only Modulation in Transmissive Metasurfaces via Diffraction Control | 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 Article Overcoming Barriers to Dynamic Phase-only Modulation in Transmissive Metasurfaces via Diffraction Control Min Seok Jang, Ju Young Kim, Ruzan Sokhoyan, Minkyoon Yi, Sangjun Han, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6989280/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 Achieving dynamic phase-only modulation in transmissive metasurfaces—where the phase of transmitted light is changed without altering its amplitude—is essential for wavefront shaping and optical information processing. However, transmissive metasurfaces face intrinsic challenges due to interference between continuum and resonance modes. This interference induces a transmission zero in systems utilizing a resonance with an input port and a transmission port, limiting both the phase-only controllability and the achievable phase range. In this work, we present a comprehensive, step-by-step diffraction-based methodology to overcome such constraints. We formulate the underlying theory, establish a theoretical upper bound, and demonstrate a proof-of-concept metasurface leveraging the Pockels effect in lithium niobate. We explore two specific metasurface configurations utilizing germanium and silicon. The germanium-based metasurface demonstrates a phase shift of ~250° with a uniform transmission amplitude of ~0.45 at a wavelength of 3 µm. The silicon-based design achieves a ~300° phase shift with an amplitude of ~0.4, operating at telecommunication wavelengths. Physical sciences/Optics and photonics/Optical physics/Nanophotonics and plasmonics Physical sciences/Physics/Electronics, photonics and device physics/Photonic devices Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Supplementary Files SupplementaryInformationNatureCommunicationsOvercomingBarriers.pdf Supplementary Information for Overcoming Barriers to Dynamic Phase-only Modulation in Transmissive Metasurfaces via Diffraction Control 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. 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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-6989280","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":477290558,"identity":"4356d745-bedf-4b5b-b3f6-54a2e0e91adf","order_by":0,"name":"Min Seok 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