Optical metamaterials with quasicrystalline symmetry: Symmetry-induced optical isotropy

We apply the concept of quasicrystals to metamaterials and experimentally demonstrate metasurfaces with isotropic properties and high resonance strength. By comparing quasicrystalline, periodic, and amorphous metasurfaces we quantify the impact of symmetry on their properties. This is achieved by studying the eigenpolarizations’ ellipticity and circular dichroism induced by mutual coupling of the meta-atoms. The advantage of the quasicrystalline in comparison to a periodic arrangement originates from the ability to reach a higher rotational symmetry in k space, therefore opening a route towards isotropic metasurfaces.