Angular-Momentum Selectivity and Asymmetry in Highly Confined Wave Propagation Along Sheath-Helical Metasurface Tubes

Abstract: Highly confined surface waves present unique opportunities to enhance light interactions with localized emitters or molecules. Hyperbolic dispersion in metasurfaces allows us to tailor and manipulate surface waves, enhancing the local density of states over broad bandwidths. So far, propagation on this platform was mainly studied in planar geometries, which facilitates the analysis but somehow limits the realm of possibilities. Here we show that "wrapping" hyperbolic metasurfaces into tubes may greatly enrich the wave propagation dynamics along their axis. This system shows strong interaction with fields and sources carrying optical angular momentum, pronounced field asymmetries, and opens pathways to valley-specific excitation and routing. In addition, we demonstrate that various parameter regimes enable strong spin and helicity to momentum locking.