Microwave

Quantum mechanics

Phase (matter)

Beam (structure)

Light beam

Optical vortex

Vortex

Superposition principle

Thermodynamics

Laser

Physics

Lens (geology)

Laser beams

Optics

Angular momentum

Axicon

Bessel beam

Optics Express

In this paper, ultra-thin metalenses are proposed to generate converging and non-diffractive vortex beam carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) in microwave region. Phase changes are introduced to the transmission cross-polarized wave by tailoring spatial orientation of Pancharatnam-Berry phase unit cell. Based on the superposition of phase profile of spiral phase plate and that of a converging lens or an axicon, vortex beam carrying OAM mode generated by the metalens can also exhibit characteristics of a focusing beam or a Bessel beam. Measured field intensities and phase distributions at microwave frequencies verify the theoretical design procedure. The proposed method provides an efficient approach to control the radius of vortex beam carrying OAM mode in microwave wireless applications for medium-short range distance.

Phase-engineered metalenses to generate converging and non-diffractive vortex beam carrying orbital angular momentum in microwave region