Silica-based flat meta-optics, despite low refractive index, exhibit high-performance, having nanopillars operating in single-mode regime

https://phys.org/news/2026-01-discovery-reveals-silica-hidden-potential.html

"silica (glass) ensures light follows single, clean path through each nanopillar... less aggressive bending light, so devices more forgiving of physical imperfections/ fabrication errors... stable response across many light wavelengths without need for complex engineering... scalable: compatible with standard deep-UV chip-making lithography, cheaper than electron-beam lithography... silica can handle high-powered lasers that would damage other materials... reduces camera, sensor, microscope production costs"