Integrated Circular Polarization Detectors Based on Asymmetric Materials or Structures

Circular polarization detection plays a significant role in various fields, such as optical communication, quantum information processing, biomedical detection, polarization imaging, and sensing. Traditionally, similar to linear polarization detection, circular polarization detection is realized by systems composed of discrete optical components, which tend to be bulky and complex. With the advancement of technology, there is a growing demand for efficient and compact integrated circular polarization detectors. In this review, we focus on two advanced research areas concerning integrated circular polarization detectors: those based on asymmetric materials or structures. We explore recent advances and future prospects and challenges for the development of integrated circular polarization detectors.