Twisted hyperbolic van der Waals crystals for chip-scale full Stokes mid-infrared polarization detection

Abstract Investigating the polarization properties of light in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectrum is crucial for molecular sensing, biomedical diagnostics, and IR imaging system technologies. Traditional methods, limited by bulky size and complicated fabrication process, utilize large rotating optics for full Stokes polarization detection, impeding miniaturization and accuracy. Naturally occurring hyperbolic van der Waals (vdW) material based devices can address these challenges due to their lithography-free fabrication, ease of integration with chip-scale platforms and room-temperature operation. This study designs a chip-integrated polarimeter by performing multi-objective optimization for efficient exploration of the design parameter space. The spatial division measurement scheme used incorporates six precisely designed linear and circular polarization filters, achieving high extinction ratios exceeding 30 dB and transmittance surpassing 50%, with fabrication tolerance of film thickness up to 100 nm. The proposed device represents a significant advancement in polarimetric detection, providing a compact, cost-effective solution and opens new avenues for on-chip mid-IR polarimetric detection in next-generation ultra-compact optical systems.