The field of metasurfaces and metamaterials has evolved into a vibrant cross-disciplinary frontier, fundamentally transforming wave control across electromagnetic, acoustic, mechanical, and quantum regimes. By engineering artificial structures with tailored properties, researchers can sculpt wave-matter interactions in unprecedented ways. This paradigm not only unlocks novel physical phenomena but also actively bridges concepts from topology, non-Hermitian physics, and quantum field theory with practical wave engineering. Current advancements are marked by several converging trends: the development of dynamic and reconfigurable metasystems for real-time wavefront manipulation; the exploitation of topological and non-Hermitian phases for robust wave steering and enhanced sensing; and the establishment of unified design principles that transcend individual physical domains. This ongoing synthesis of ideas is fostering a powerful, unified framework for wave manipulation, driving innovation from photonics and phononics to emerging quantum technologies.
Advances in metasurfaces and metamaterials are enabling transformative control over waves—from light and sound to mechanical and quantum excitations—driving progress in reconfigurable optics, topological devices, and advanced sensing. Yet, a fundamental challenge lies in the isolation of research across these physical domains, which hinders the development of a unified framework for wave manipulation and limits the emergence of versatile, multifunctional metastructures.
This Research Topic aims to bridge these disciplines by fostering a cohesive synthesis of concepts and methodologies. We seek contributions that translate key advances—such as non-Hermitian dynamics, topological protection, and active reconfiguration—across electromagnetic, acoustic, mechanical, and quantum platforms. Our goal is to establish integrated theoretical, computational, and experimental approaches for precise and dynamic wave control. By unifying these efforts, we aspire to catalyze the design of next-generation meta-devices with broad impact in communication, sensing, and information processing.
We welcome the submissions of Reviews, Original Research articles, and Perspectives in areas including, but not limited to:
1. Cross-Disciplinary Design Frameworks: Unified theories, computational models, and inverse design strategies applicable across photonic, phononic, elastic, and quantum metamaterials.
2. Dynamic and Programmable Metasystems: Reconfigurable, tunable, and nonlinear metasurfaces/metamaterials for active wave control in optics, acoustics, and mechanics.
3. Topological and Non-Hermitian Wave Physics: Topological insulators, exceptional points, and non-Hermitian phenomena in artificial structures across different physical domains.
4. Acoustic and Mechanical Metamaterials: Novel designs for wave guiding, vibration isolation, energy harvesting, and acoustic cloaking inspired by photonic concepts.
5. Quantum and Photonic Meta-Platforms: Metasurfaces for quantum light manipulation, enhanced light-matter interaction, and integrated quantum photonic devices.
6. Active, Smart, and Non-Linear Metamaterials: Systems incorporating stimuli-responsive materials, gain media, or nonlinearities for advanced wave functionality.
7. Multiphysics and Multifunctional Metastructures: Designs that simultaneously control multiple wave types (e.g., phonon-photon coupling) or achieve combined functions.
8. Emerging Applications: Sensing, imaging, communication, energy, and quantum technology applications enabled by cross-disciplinary wave control concepts.
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
- Brief Research Report
- Editorial
- FAIR² Data
- FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
- Mini Review
- Original Research
- Perspective
- Review
- Technology and Code
Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.
Keywords: wave manipulation, Metasurfaces, Metamaterials, Reconfigurable Devices, Non-Hermitian Systems, Wavefront Shaping
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
