AI-based Metasurface Lens Design

Introduction

Conventional optical imaging systems are bulky and complex, requiring multiple elements to correct aberrations. Optical metasurfaces, planar structures that are capable of manipulating light at subwavelength scales, are compact alternatives to conventional refractive optical elements. Their miniature volume is suitable for technologies like AR/VR displays and wearables. However, existing metalenses face significant challenges from monochromatic (e.g., coma) and chromatic aberrations, limiting their applicability. Here we present an end-to-end AI-based computational method that parametrizes the profile of metalenses and optimizes it based on customized loss functions. This innovation enables wide-angle imaging with corrected aberrations while retaining a single-layer form factor, overcoming the key limitations of existing metalenses and advancing their potential for miniaturized imaging systems.

Background

What Is Metasurface?

A metasurface is an two-dimensional material composed of subwavelength-scaled patterns. Metasurfaces manipulate electromagnetic waves, e.g. light waves, through specific boundary conditions imposed at their interfaces, unlike conventional materials which manipulate EM waves through its bulk properties, such as refractive index. Metasurface's unique approach enables precise control over wavefronts, allowing for innovative applications such as planar lenses (metalenses) and holograms. Their thin profile and design flexibility are important in integrated photonics and advanced imaging systems.

Fig-metasurface.png

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