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Meadowlark Optics - Wave Plates 6/24 LB 2024

Metamaterials Extend Photonics

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As metamaterials move out of the lab, their unusual characteristics could enable enhanced performance in applications from optical switching to polarization measurement.

HANK HOGAN, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Metamaterials — engineered to have unique photonic and other properties — can enable previously difficult or impossible-to-achieve performance. Radar or lidar steering, for instance, can be achieved inexpensively without moving parts. Glasses for augmented or virtual reality can direct light into the eye for viewing synthetic images. Optical signals can be switched faster, and important optical parameters such as polarization can be measured more simply and could benefit from these materials. To continue turning such possibilities into commercial realities, vendors and...Read full article

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    Published: January 2020
    Glossary
    lidar
    Lidar, short for light detection and ranging, is a remote sensing technology that uses laser light to measure distances and generate precise, three-dimensional information about the shape and characteristics of objects and surfaces. Lidar systems typically consist of a laser scanner, a GPS receiver, and an inertial measurement unit (IMU), all integrated into a single system. Here is how lidar works: Laser emission: A laser emits laser pulses, often in the form of rapid and repetitive laser...
    augmented reality
    Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that integrates digital information, typically in the form of computer-generated graphics, images, or data, with the real-world environment in real-time. AR enhances the user's perception of the physical world by overlaying or combining digital content onto the user's view of the real world, often through devices like smartphones, tablets, smart glasses, or specialized AR headsets. Key features and principles of augmented reality: Real-time...
    virtual reality
    Virtual reality (VR) is a computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional environment or experience that can be interacted with and explored by an individual using electronic devices, such as a headset with a display. VR aims to create a sense of presence, immersing users in a computer-generated world that can be entirely fictional or a replication of the real world. It often involves the use of specialized hardware and software to provide a fully immersive and interactive experience. ...
    polarization
    Polarization refers to the orientation of oscillations in a transverse wave, such as light waves, radio waves, or other electromagnetic waves. In simpler terms, it describes the direction in which the electric field vector of a wave vibrates. Understanding polarization is important in various fields, including optics, telecommunications, and physics. Key points about polarization: Transverse waves: Polarization is a concept associated with transverse waves, where the oscillations occur...
    metasurfaces
    Metasurfaces are two-dimensional arrays of subwavelength-scale artificial structures, often referred to as meta-atoms or meta-elements, arranged in a specific pattern to manipulate the propagation of light or other electromagnetic waves at subwavelength scales. These structures can control the phase, amplitude, and polarization of incident light across a planar surface, enabling unprecedented control over the wavefront of light. Key features and characteristics of metasurfaces include: ...
    Featuresmetamaterialsradarlidaraugmented realityvirtual realityoptical signalspolarizationEchoDrivemetasurfacesphased array beam steeringoptical 3D sensingunit cellsMark Brongersmacombinersepsilon-near-zeroENZwaveplateshologramsleft circular polarizationLCPright circular polarizationRCP

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