Single-shot full-Stokes polarization and quantitative phase imaging via a single-layer metalens

Conventional image sensors are intrinsically limited to detecting optical intensity, thereby missing the rich phase and polarization dimensions of the light field. While characterizing these parameters is essential for understanding the intrinsic properties of objects, current multidimensional imaging techniques are often plagued by bulky optical setups, time-sequential scanning, or coherent noise artifacts. Here, we present a compact, single-shot imaging strategy capable of simultaneously retrieving full-Stokes polarization and quantitative phase information using a single-layer metalens. Our design utilizes the metalens to project the incident light onto distinct regions of a polarization camera. By introducing a predefined focal shift between isotropic sub-regions, we enable motion-free phase retrieval via the transport-of-intensity equation, while simultaneously separating chiral polarization states to reconstruct the complete Stokes vector. Using speckle-suppressed LED illumination, we experimentally demonstrate simultaneous full-Stokes polarization and quantitative phase imaging. This miniaturized architecture may pave the way for portable, real-time multidimensional optical sensing platforms.