Metasurface optics for compact and scalable polarization cameras

Metasurfaces are a fascinating new direction for producing small form factor optical elements that can be directly integrated with a variety of sensors and illumination sources. Metasurfaces have received extensive attention for their potential applications in imaging optics as they enable significantly more compact camera modules with enhanced functionality and because the unit processes to create metasurface optics are compatible with those used to fabricate CMOS image sensors. Metasurfaces, however, also enable many applications in polarization optics. The present proposal ties these two broad application areas together and aims to develop metasurfaces components for ultracompact, inexpensive polarization cameras. Such cameras may find application in contrast enhancement for remote sensing, 3D imaging, security applications, and autonomous vehicles, among many other applications.