Opportunity: Optoelectronic Space-Time Metasurfaces

Conventional static metasurfaces manipulate light waves across a 2D space, but they cannot alter the light’s frequency or easily break optical reciprocity. The core research question is: How can we utilize high-speed optoelectronic materials to achieve ultrafast, pixel-by-pixel temporal modulation of a metasurface, and what unique wave phenomena, such as complete nonreciprocal light routing or dynamic frequency translation, can we demonstrate?

The primary objective of this project is to design, simulate, and characterize a sub-wavelength optoelectronic space-time metasurface capable of simultaneously shifting the phase and frequency of incoming light. By establishing precise control over both spatial and temporal gradients, the project aims to create a highly efficient, magnet-free optical isolator or a reconfigurable frequency-shifting beam-steerer applicable to next-generation telecommunications.
The participants will work closely with ARL researchers on the following tasks:
• Performing multiphysics modeling of optically controlled meta-atoms at radio frequencies.
• Running computational simulations to sweep geometrical parameters and maximize the device’s modulation efficiency.
• Developing control scripts to generate specific time-varying phase patterns across the array, simulating a traveling wave profile.
• Analyzing data outputs from simulations, plotting field distributions, frequency spectrums, and efficiency curves.
• Assisting in laboratory characterization (as experimental data becomes available) by aligning optical setups, optimizing laser inputs, and capturing output beam metrics.

The participants will gain hands-on experience using engineering modeling tools, such as Ansys Lumerical or COMSOL Multiphysics, and handling high-frequency measurement systems within a photonics laboratory setting. By the conclusion of the summer program, the participants will be responsible for preparing a presentation and a technical report summarizing their research findings.