Metasurface Micro-lightsails—From Radiation Pressure Optomechanics to Interstellar Travel

Nanophotonic design principles can enable self-stabilizing optical manipulation, levitation and propulsion of ultralight microscopic and macroscopic-sized (i.e., micron, <i>mm</i>, <i>cm</i>, or even meter-scale) metasurface ‘lightsails’ via radiation pressure from a high power density pump laser source. Here we report on new simulations and measurements to test the stringent criteria for metasurface lightsail design, dynamical and opto-mechanical stability, and thermal management. We discuss the optomechanical stability of micro-lightsails in the linear and nonlinear regime, as well as first experimental radiation pressure characterization of small silicon nitride (&lt;1 mm) microscale lightsails. We will also present results from multiphysics simulations that identify key issues for lightsail stability, and will give a vision for the design of large-scale lightsail spacecraft.