Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology

Overview Light is an electromagnetic wave that arises from the mutual interaction of time-varying electric and magnetic fields. The properties of such waves depend on the type and structure of the medium through which these waves travel. Metaphotonics represents the study of new optical behaviors beyond conventional optical properties by developing a new space, constructed with various artificial nanostructures.

"Meta," from Greek, means "beyond" and in the context of metaphotonics refers to artificial properties that do not exist naturally. When these artificial structures are used, unusual and useful phenomena, unanticipated from naturally observed materials, can be generated. Due to its ability to control various optical properties such as the amplitude, phase, polarization as well as the wavelength in a sub-wavelength scale, metaphotonics may be applicable in various fields, including sensors, displays, communication, energy, and biotechnology.

Technology Trend Major related technologies include metasurfaces, ultrathin flat structures with programmable amplitude and phase in individual nano-antenna. Arbitrary wavefront shaping via metasurfaces enables unprecedented applications in ultra-thin flat lens imaging, wide-viewing holograms, and dynamic beam steering. Nanomaterials and nanoprocessing are also important technologies, which are core ones necessary for fully realizing the properties of metamaterials.

SAIT Technology SAIT is actively engaged in research on fundamentals and applications for metaphotonics. In the field of metasurfaces, SAIT laboratories are researching innovative optical devices including high-resolution depth sensors for imaging devices, tunable metasurface-based ultra-fast beam scanners for LiDARs, and hologram display with wide viewing-angle. SAIT is also pursuing core capabilities in nanomaterials and nano processing technology, because the structures that must be manipulated are smaller than the wavelength of the light transmitting these materials. With deep and extensive competencies in metasurfaces and nanomaterial technologies, we will keep pushing ahead for the better future inspired and promised by cutting-edge technologies.