Asymmetric parametric generation of images with nonlinear dielectric metasurfaces

Subwavelength dielectric resonators assembled into metasurfaces have become a versatile tool for miniaturizing optical components approaching the nanoscale^1–3. An important class of metasurface functionalities is associated with asymmetry in both the generation and transmission of light with respect to reversals of the positions of emitters and receivers^4–6. The nonlinear light–matter interaction in metasurfaces^7–9 offers a promising pathway towards miniaturization of the asymmetric control of light. Here we demonstrate asymmetric parametric generation of light in nonlinear metasurfaces. We assemble dissimilar nonlinear dielectric resonators into translucent metasurfaces that produce images in the visible spectral range on being illuminated by infrared radiation. By design, the metasurfaces produce different and completely independent images for the reversed direction of illumination, that is, when the positions of the infrared emitter and the visible light receiver are exchanged. Nonlinearity-enabled asymmetric control of light by subwavelength resonators paves the way towards novel nanophotonic components via dense integration of large quantities of nonlinear resonators into compact metasurface designs.