Versatile polarization-converted non-diffractive Bessel beams based on fully phase-modulated metasurfaces

The Bessel beam has become significant in optical research due to its properties such as a long focal depth, self-healing, and non-diffraction. However, conventional methods for generating Bessel beams have drawbacks such as limited flexibility and tunability and the use of bulky optics. These factors lead to the complexity of the optical systems. This paper presents what we believe is a novel approach to generating Bessel beams by utilizing a fully phase-modulated all-dielectric metasurface. The proposed method enables the arbitrary and independent manipulation of cross-polarized and co-polarized components, allowing the creation of Bessel beams featuring multiple polarization conversions when subjected to left-handed circularly polarized (LCP) incidence. To demonstrate the versatility and effectiveness of the method, three metasurfaces with distinct characteristics are designed. The simulated generated Bessel beams exhibit qualities including long focal depth, non-diffraction behavior, self-healing capabilities, and polarization conversion, which align with the theoretical predictions. This work presents novel possibilities for effectively generating and multi-functional application of Bessel beams. (c) 2024 Optica Publishing Group under the terms of the Optica Open Access Publishing Agreement