Metasurfaces and Metadevices for Topological Electromagnetic Waves

ABSTRACT Metamaterials and metasurfaces recently provided platforms for integrated and compact generation of structured light fields and nontrivial electromagnetic phenomena. Optical topologies refer to diverse topological localized structures made by different parameters in light fields, such as vortices, skyrmions, and hopfions. In this article, we navigate a direction combining the two emerging communities – meta‐devices for generation, manipulation and detection of novel topologies of light – which will be a rapidly growing interdisciplinary field across the studies in electromagnetic metamaterials and structured light. We start by a systematic review of optical topologies from low to high dimensions, and then focus on recent advances of metasurface‐based generation of these topological textures of light. In which, by clarifying the interplay between theoretical constructs and practical meta‐optical design, we aim to establish a cohesive framework that guides and inspires future research at the intersection of structured light and engineered matter. Finally, we conclude with a perspective on how topological‐light meta‐devices could revolutionize our information society.