Abstract The development of flat optics has taken the world by storm. The initial mission was to try and replace conventional optical elements by thinner, lightweight equivalents. However, while developing this technology and learning about its strengths and limitations, researchers have identified a myriad of exciting new opportunities. It is therefore a great moment to explore where flat optics can really make a difference and what materials and building blocks are needed to make further progress. Building on its strengths, flat optics is bound to impact computational imaging, active wavefront manipulation, ultrafast spatiotemporal control of light, quantum communications, thermal emission management, novel display technologies, and sensing. In parallel with the development of flat optics, we have witnessed an incredible progress in the large-area synthesis and physical understanding of atomically thin, two-dimensional (2D) quantum materials. Given that these materials bring a wealth of unique physical properties and feature the same dimensionality as planar optical elements, they appear to have exactly what it takes to develop the next generation of high-performance flat optics.

中文翻译：

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通向原子级薄超表面光学的道路

摘要 平面光学的发展风靡全球。最初的任务是尝试用更薄、更轻的等效物替代传统的光学元件。然而，在开发这项技术并了解其优势和局限性的同时，研究人员发现了无数令人兴奋的新机会。因此，现在是探索平面光学可以真正发挥作用的重要时刻，以及需要哪些材料和构建块才能取得进一步进展。凭借其优势，平面光学必将影响计算成像、主动波前操纵、光的超快时空控制、量子通信、热发射管理、新型显示技术和传感。在发展平面光学的同时，我们目睹了原子级薄二维 (2D) 量子材料的大面积合成和物理理解方面取得了令人难以置信的进展。鉴于这些材料带来了丰富的独特物理特性，并具有与平面光学元件相同的维度，它们似乎完全具备开发下一代高性能平面光学元件所需的条件。