The topological edge state (TES) in a one-dimensional optical lattice has exhibited robust field localization or waveguiding against the structural perturbations that would give rise to fault-tolerant photonic integrations. However, the zero mode as a kind of TES usually deviates from the exact zero-energy state in a finite Hermitian lattice due to the coupling between these edge states, which inevitably weaken the topological protection. Here, we first show such a breakup of zero modes in finite Su-Schriffer-Heeger optical lattices and then reveal their recovery by introducing non-Hermitian degeneracies with parity-time ($PT$) symmetry. We carry out experiments in a finite silicon waveguide lattice, where a passive-$PT$ symmetry was implemented with carefully controlled lossy silicon waveguides. The experimental results are fully compatible with the theoretical prediction. Our results show that the topological property of an open system can be tuned by non-Hermitian lattice engineering, which offers a route to enhance the topological protection in a finite system.

Tomography is an informative imaging modality that is usually implemented by mechanical scanning, owing to the limited depth-of-field (DOF) in conventional systems. However, recent imaging systems are working towards more compact and stable architectures; therefore, developing nonmotion tomography is highly desirable. Here, we propose a metalens-based spectral imaging system with an aplanatic GaN metalens (NA = 0.78), in which large chromatic dispersion is used to access spectral focus tuning and optical zooming in the visible spectrum. After the function of wavelength-switched tomography was confirmed on cascaded samples, this aplanatic metalens is utilized to image microscopic frog egg cells and shows excellent tomographic images with distinct DOF features of the cell membrane and nucleus. Our approach makes good use of the large diffractive dispersion of the metalens and develops a new imaging technique that advances recent informative optical devices.

The refractive-lens technique has been well developed over a long period of evolution, offering powerful imaging functionalities, such as microscopes, telescopes, and spectroscopes. Nevertheless, the ever-growing requirements continue to urge further enhanced imaging capabilities and upgraded devices that are more compact for convenience. Metamaterial as a fascinating concept has inspired unprecedented new explorations in physics, material science, and optics, not only in fundamental researches but also novel applications. Along with the imaging topic, this paper reviews the progress of the flat lens as an important branch of metamaterials, covering the early superlens with super-diffraction capability and current hot topics of metalenses including a paralleled strategy of multilevel diffractive lenses. Numerous efforts and approaches have been dedicated to areas ranging from the new fascinating physics to feasible applications. This review provides a clear picture of the flat-lens evolution from the perspective of metamaterial design, elucidating the relation and comparison between a superlens and metalens, and addressing derivative designs. Finally, application scenarios that favor the ultrathin lens technique are emphasized with respect to possible revolutionary imaging devices, followed by conclusive remarks and prospects.

Current imaging technology has been well developed by versatile strategies for outstanding performances in high resolution, high image quality, and broad wavelength band. Most of these techniques are established on the basis of mature refractive or reflective optical elements, such as lenses, internal reflection mirrors, etc., which result in optical systems that are bulky, heavy, and inconvenient for portability. However, more compact, light, and stable optical systems are the ever-growing requirement of modern applications. Recent advances in computational imaging (including the lensless and scattering medium imaging) have shown a successful route to reduce the complexity of the optical system by discarding the refractive lenses.^1,2 Nevertheless, they are not a real physical image, and the image quality strongly relies on the post-processing algorithms, such as iterative phase recovery algorithm,^3,4 compressive sensing,^5,6 and Fourier ptychography.^7,8 It inevitably requires computational resources that are time consuming and sometimes needs particular prior knowledge for imaging reconstruction.

Flat lenses, including metalens and diffractive lens, have attracted increasing attention due to their ability to miniaturize the imaging devices. However, realizing a large scale achromatic flat lens with high performance still remains a big challenge. Here, we developed a new framework in designing achromatic multi-level diffractive lenses by light coherence optimization, which enables the implementation of large-scale flat lenses under non-ideal conditions. As results, a series achromatic polymer lenses with diameter from 1 to 10 mm are successfully designed and fabricated. The subsequent optical characterizations substantially validate our theoretical framework and show relatively good performance of the centimeter-scale achromatic multi-level diffractive lenses with a super broad bandwidth in optical wavelengths (400–1100 nm). After comparing with conventional refractive lens, this achromatic lens shows significant advantages in white-light imaging performance, implying a new strategy in developing practical planar optical devices.