Inverse design and flexible parameterization of meta-optics using algorithmic differentiation

Abstract

Ultrathin meta-optics offer unmatched, multifunctional control of light. Next-generation optical technologies, however, demand unprecedented performance. This will likely require design algorithms surpassing the capability of human intuition. For the adjoint method, this requires explicitly deriving gradients, which is sometimes challenging for certain photonics problems. Existing techniques also comprise a patchwork of application-specific algorithms, each focused in scope and scatterer type. Here, we leverage algorithmic differentiation as used in artificial neural networks, treating photonic design parameters as trainable weights, optical sources as inputs, and encapsulating device performance in the loss function. By solving a complex, degenerate eigenproblem and formulating rigorous coupled-wave analysis as a computational graph, we support both arbitrary, parameterized scatterers and topology optimization. With iteration times below the cost of two forward simulations typical of adjoint methods, we generate multilayer, multifunctional, and aperiodic meta-optics. As an open-source platform adaptable to other algorithms and problems, we enable fast and flexible meta-optical design.

References in corpus (19)

• Aberration-free ultra-thin flat lenses and axicons at telecom wavelengths based on plasmonic metasurfaces
• Subwavelength-thick Lenses with High Numerical Apertures and Large Efficiency Based on High Contrast Transmitarrays
• Inverse design and demonstration of a compact and broadband on-chip wavelength demultiplexer
• Flat Dielectric Grating Reflectors with High Focusing Power
• High-NA Achromatic Metalenses by Inverse Design
• Low Contrast Dielectric Metasurface Optics
• Differentiable Programming Tensor Networks
• Topology Optimized Multi-layered Meta-optics
• Topology optimization of freeform large-area metasurfaces
• Efficient Dielectric Metasurface Collimating Lenses for Mid-Infrared Quantum Cascade Lasers
• Inverse designed metalenses with extended depth of focus
• Computational inverse design for cascaded systems of metasurface optics
• Overlapping domains for topology optimization of large-area metasurfaces
• Upholding the diffraction limit in the focusing of light and sound
• Ultrathin van der Waals metalenses
• Photonic Design: From Fundamental Solar Cell Physics to Computational Inverse Design
• Inverse design of optical elements based on arrays of dielectric spheres
• Auto-Differentiating Linear Algebra
• Adjoints and Automatic (Algorithmic) Differentiation in Computational Finance