We propose and experimentally demonstrate a high efficient circularly polarizing dichroism waveplate (CPDW) using a Si-based all-dielectric 2Dchiral metasurface. We demonstrate that the CPDW exhibits a unique dichroism in that it functions as a transmissive quarter waveplate for one of either left-or right-handed circularly polarized incident lightand a reflective mirror for the opposite polarization. The circular polarization dichroism (CPD = IRCP − ILCP) in transmission at wavelength ~1.5 μm reaches 97% and the extinction ratio (ER = IRCP/ILCP) is as high as 345:1. Experimental fabrications and measurements of the proposed all-dielectric metasurface are implemented and found to be in excellent agreement with the simulations. The proposed all-dielectric chiral metasurface is of advantages of high-dichroism, easy-fabrication and standard semiconductor fabrication techniques compatible, which could lead to enhanced security in fiber and free-space communications, as well as imaging and sensing applications for circularly polarized light with a highly integrated photonic platform.

Absorption of microwaves by metallic conductors is typically inefficient, albeit naturally broadband, due to the huge impedance mismatch between metal and free space. Reducing metal to ultrathin profile may improve absorption efficiency, but a maximal 50% absorption limit induced by the field continuity exists. Here, we experimentally show that broadband, perfect (100%) absorption of microwaves can be realized in a single layer of ultrathin conductive film when illuminated coherently by two oppositely directed incident beams. Our experiments keep the field continuity and simultaneously break the 50% limit. Inheriting the intrinsic broadband feature of metals, complete absorption is observed to be frequency independent in microwave experiments from 6 to 18 GHz. Remarkably, this occurs in films with thicknesses that are at the extreme subwavelength scales, ∼λ/10 000 or less. Our work proposes a way to achieve total electromagnetic wave absorption in an ultrawide spectrum of radio waves and microwaves with a simple conductive film.

Strong-field-enhanced spectroscopy in a hybrid dipole resonance system composed of a low-loss semiconductor nanoparticle and metal film is proposed and demonstrated. This hybrid Si nanoparticle on silver system is featuring extraordinary near-field enhancement and large field confinement. Extensive numerical calculations are carried out to investigate the influence of the gap size, particle diameter, and metal substrate on the near-field enhancement response in the Si particle–metal gap in order to properly model their hybridization. Our analysis reveals that this near-field enhancement originates from the strong gap magnetic resonance response by the Si nanoparticle dipole interaction with metal mirror image and metal film surface plasmon effects. We further demonstrate the strong enhanced Raman spectroscopy of a single silicon nanoparticle over Ag film with a precisely sized molecular spacer layer between them. These results illustrate the capacity and tunability of the low-loss silicon particle on the metal system on surface-enhanced spectroscopic techniques as well as possible applications in optical circuits or building new metamaterials.

Coaxial gallium arsenide single-nanowire solar cells with multiple electrically and optically functional nanoshells are presented in this paper. Both optical absorption and light-conversion characteristics are extensively examined by performing a comprehensive device-oriented simulation. It is found that a window layer with a large semiconductor bandgap is necessary for the nanowire gallium arsenide solar cells, which allow internal quantum efficiency~100% in~75% of the absorption band of gallium arsenide. Results also reveal the role of nanofocusing effect in enhancing the performance of nanowire devices that show both absorption and external quantum efficiencies over 100% under resonances. A dielectric cladding shell is introduced and optimized, which enhances the nanofocusing effect and leads to extraordinary enhancement of both absorption and lightconversion capabilities in a very broad band. This design contributes a short-circuit current density increased by 2.4 times and an open-circuit voltage over 1.1 V.

We extend the applications of the photothermal diagnostics by means of laser-infrared photothermal radiometry (PTR) to samples with curved surfaces. Specifically, we present both the theoretical and experimental PTR studies on solid cylindrical samples (surfaces). Based on the Green function method, the thermal-wave field distribution of a cylindrical surface that is under the excitation of a periodically modulated uniform beam is obtained. The laser beam, which is of a cylindrical symmetry, impinges uniformly, partially or fully, on the cylindrical surface, which is practically infinitely long along the axial direction. The characteristics of the thermal-wave field with respect to the thermal diffusivity of the material, the diameter of the sample, the size of the incident beam, and the measurement of the angle are discussed. Experimental results are in good agreement with the theory.