benefit astronomy in particular (which is an often-cited potential application area for metasurfaces). However, few developed examples in which metasurface components offer a unique benefit to as- tronomical instrumentation—substantiated by the production of scientific data—have been shown. Here, we present the Solar Imaging Metasurface Polarimeter (SIMPol), a first-of-its-kind telescope for snapshot imaging polarimetry of the sun around a Sr I line at 460.7 nm enabled by a meta- surface polarization-analyzing grating. This high-performance grating exhibits an overall efficiency of nearly 70% and high polarization contrast (diattenuation) across its four observation channels. We demonstrate SIMPol’s integration into a major observatory telescope facility with two different imaging modes. In both cases, Zeeman polarization signatures were clearly observed in two adjacent
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Metasurface-enabled astronomical polarimetry
Lisa W. Li, Phillip H. H. Oakley, Rebecca N. Schindhelm, Sean G. Sellers, Roberto Casini, Noah A. Rubin
Research context
In the past decade or so, metasurface optical components have received considerable scientific and industrial interest. The miniaturization afforded by metasurfaces could benefit astronomy in particular, which is an often-cited potential application area for metasurfaces. However, few developed examples in which metasurface components offer a unique benefit to astronomical instrumentation-substantiated by the production of scientific data-have been shown. Here, we present the Solar Imaging Metasurface Polarimeter (SIMPol), a first-of-its-kind telescope for snapshot imaging polarimetry of the sun enabled by a high-performance metasurface polarization-analyzing grating, which provides for single element, snapshot imaging polarimetry. We demonstrate SIMPol's integration into a major observatory telescope facility and the characterization of Zeeman signatures of solar magnetism. This work-among the first to demonstrate an advantage presented by metasurface optics to a real application in astronomical instrumentation-heralds the application of metasurfaces and emergent nanophotonic technologies in astronomy more broadly.
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Cite / 引用
Lisa W. Li, Phillip H. H. Oakley, Rebecca N. Schindhelm, Sean G. Sellers, Roberto Casini, Noah A. Rubin. Metasurface-enabled astronomical polarimetry. Science Advances (2026). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aee8035
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