Equivalence of reflection paths of light and Feynman paths in stacked metasurfaces

Abstract: We show the existence of virtual polarization states during the interaction of modes in metasurface stacks. In support of our findings we experimentally realize a metasurface stack, consisting of an isotropic layer of nano-patches and an anisotropic layer of nano-wires. Utilizing an analogy to the interaction of electrons at junctions in mesoscopic electron transport via Feynman paths, we present a semi-analytical description of the modal interaction inside this stack. We then derive a series of all possible reflection paths light can take inside the metasurface stack.