A Review: Phase Measurement Techniques Based on Metasurfaces

Phase carries crucial information about the light propagation process, and the visualization and quantitative measurement of phase have important applications, ranging from ultra-precision metrology to biomedical imaging. Traditional phase measurement techniques typically require large and complex optical systems, limiting their applicability in various scenarios. Optical metasurfaces, as flat optical elements, offer a novel approach to phase measurement by manipulating light at the nanoscale through light-matter interactions. Metasurfaces are advantageous due to their lightweight, multifunctional, and easy-to-integrate nature, providing new possibilities for simplifying traditional phase measurement methods. This review categorizes phase measurement techniques into quantitative and non-quantitative methods and reviews the advancements in metasurface-based phase measurement technologies. Detailed discussions are provided on several methods, including vortex phase contrast, holographic interferometry, shearing interferometry, the Transport of Intensity Equation (TIE), and wavefront sensing. The advantages and limitations of metasurfaces in phase measurement are highlighted, and future research directions are explored.