Reflecting light to a predetermined nonspecular direction is an important ability of metasurfaces, which is the basis for a wide range of applications (e.g., beam steering/splitting and imaging). However, anomalous reflection with 100% efficiency has not been achieved at optical frequencies yet, because of losses and/or insufficient nonlocal control of light waves. Here, we propose an all-dielectric quasi–three-dimensional subwavelength structure, consisting of multilayer films and metagratings, to achieve perfect anomalous reflections at optical frequencies. A complex multiple scattering process was stimulated by effectively coupling different Bloch waves and propagating waves, thus offering the metasystem the desired nonlocal control on light waves required by perfect anomalous reflections. Two perfect anomalous reflectors were demonstrated to reflect normally incident 1550-nm light to the 40°/75° directions with absolute efficiencies of 99%/99% in design (98%/88% in experiment). Our results pave the way toward realizing optical metadevices with desired high efficiencies in realistic applications.

Meta-optics based on metasurfaces that interact strongly with light has been an active area of research in recent years. The development of meta-optics has always been driven by human’s pursuits of the ultimate miniaturization of optical elements, on-demand design and control of light beams, and processing hidden modalities of light. Underpinned by meta-optical physics, meta-optical devices have produced potentially disruptive applications in light manipulation and ultra-light optics. Among them, optical metalens are most fundamental and prominent meta-devices, owing to their powerful abilities in advanced imaging and image processing, and their novel functionalities in light manipulation. This review focuses on recent advances in the fundamentals and applications of the field defined by excavating new optical physics and breaking the limitations of light manipulation. In addition, we have deeply explored the metalenses and metalens-based devices with novel functionalities, and their applications in computational imaging and image processing. We also provide an outlook on this active field in the end.

Metasurface-based optical beam scanning devices are gaining attention in optics and photonics for their potential to revolutionize light detection and ranging systems. However, achieving anomalous refraction with perfect efficiency (>99%) remains challenging, limiting the efficiency and field of view (FOV) of metasurface-based optical beam scanning devices. Here, we introduce a paradigm for achieving perfect anomalous refraction by augmenting longitudinal degrees of freedom arousing a multiple scattering process to optimize symmetry breaking. An all-dielectric quasi-three-dimensional subwavelength structure (Q3D-SWS), composed of a purposely designed multilayer film and a dielectric metasurface separated by a spacer, is proposed to eliminate reflection loss and spurious diffraction, achieving >99% anomalous refraction efficiency. By independently rotating two cascaded Q3D-SWSs, we experimentally showcase half-space optical beam scanning, achieving a FOV of 144° × 144°, with a maximum efficiency exceeding 86%. Our results open new avenues for high-efficiency metasurfaces and advances applications in light detection and ranging systems.

Optical tweezers (OTs) can transfer light momentum to particles, achieving the precise manipulation of particles through optical forces. Due to the properties of non-contact and precise control, OTs have provided a gateway for exploring the mysteries behind nonlinear optics, soft-condensed-matter physics, molecular biology, and analytical chemistry. In recent years, OTs have been combined with microfluidic chips to overcome their limitations in, for instance, speed and efficiency, creating a technology known as “optofluidic tweezers.” This paper describes static OTs briefly first. Next, we overview recent developments in optofluidic tweezers, summarizing advancements in capture, manipulation, sorting, and measurement based on different technologies. The focus is on various kinds of optofluidic tweezers, such as holographic optical tweezers, photonic-crystal optical tweezers, and waveguide optical tweezers. Moreover, there is a continuing trend of combining optofluidic tweezers with other techniques to achieve greater functionality, such as antigen–antibody interactions and Raman tweezers. We conclude by summarizing the main challenges and future directions in this research field.