Optical activity modulation in chiral metasurfaces via structured light

Lalaguna, Paula L., Hashiyada, Shun, Gadegaard, Nikolaj, Götte, Jörg B., Barnett, Stephen M., Forbes, Kayn A., Tanaka, Yoshito Y. and Kadodwala, Malcolm (2025) Optical activity modulation in chiral metasurfaces via structured light. Nano Letters, 25. 12393–12398. ISSN 1530-6984

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Abstract

We demonstrate a real-time, all-optical method for modulating optical activity in chiral metasurfaces using structured light without altering the metasurface geometry. By employing tightly focused Laguerre–Gaussian beams carrying spin and orbital angular momentum, we achieve dynamic control of the dichroism through selective excitation of optically dark multipolar modes. Unlike conventional methods reliant on thermal, mechanical or chemical stimuli, our approach offers noninvasive, and reversible modulation, overcoming key limitations in response time and energy efficiency. The structured light’s field gradients enable access to optical modes otherwise inactive under plane wave illumination. This technique opens new pathways for adaptive nanophotonic systems, including quantum sensors, polarization controllers, and quantum encryption platforms, where high-speed and contactless tuning of chiroptical properties is essential.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Acknowledgments: This work was supported by the EPSRC (Grant UKRI653), the Leverhulme Trust (RPG-2024-015), the Royal Society (RSRP/R/210005), Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) (Nos. JP24H00424, JP22H05132 in Transformative Research Areas (A) “Chiral materials science pioneered by the helicity of light” to Y.Y.T. and Nos. JP21K14594, JP23K04669 to S.H.) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), and the JST FOREST Program (No. JPMJFR213O to Y.Y.T.). The authors would like to thank the staff of James Watt Nanofabrication Centre (JWNC) for assistance in sample characterization.
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmacology
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	14 Aug 2025 08:33
Last Modified:	14 Aug 2025 08:33
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/100140
DOI:	10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c03044

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