Free-form optimization of nanophotonic devices: from classical methods to deep learning

Nanophotonic devices have enabled microscopic control of light with an unprecedented spatial resolution by employing subwavelength optical elements that can strongly interact with incident waves. However, to date, most nanophotonic devices have been designed based on fixed-shape optical elements, and a large portion of their design potential has remained unexplored. It is only recently that free-form design schemes have been spotlighted in nanophotonics, offering routes to make a break from conventional design constraints and utilize the full design potential. In this review, we systematically overview the nascent yet rapidly growing field of free-form nanophotonic device design. We attempt to define the term “free-form” in the context of photonic device design, and survey different strategies for free-form optimization of nanophotonic devices spanning from classical methods, adjoint-based methods, to contemporary machine-learning-based approaches.

Optical image encryption scheme with extended visual cryptography and non-mechanical ptychographic encoding

Non-mechanical ptychographic encoding (NPE) transforms the secret information into a series of diffractive patterns through a spatial light modulator, saving the need to fabricate the secret objects. Conventionally, the shares in extended visual cryptography (EVC) are printed on transparent sheets or fabricated with diffractive optical elements and metasurface, but these methods are expensive and disposable. To solve these problems, we proposed an optical image encryption scheme that combines EVC and NPE. In the encryption process, the secret image is decomposed into multiple shares that are digitally loaded on the spatial light modulator, and the ciphertexts are generated according to the ptychographic encoding scheme. The decryption is performed by superimposing the shares reconstructed from the ciphertexts. We present optical experiments to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.

Collective unitary evolution with linear optics by Cartan decomposition

Unitary operation is an essential step for quantum information processing. We first propose an iterative procedure for decomposing a general unitary operation without resorting to controlled-NOT gate and single-qubit rotation library. Based on the results of decomposition, we design two compact architectures to deterministically implement arbitrary two-qubit polarization-spatial and spatial-polarization collective unitary operations, respectively. The involved linear optical elements are reduced from 25 to 20 and 21 to 20, respectively. Moreover, the parameterized quantum computation can be flexibly manipulated by wave plates and phase shifters. As an application, we construct the specific quantum circuits to realize two-dimensional quantum walk and quantum Fourier transformation. Our schemes are simple and feasible with the current technology.

Observation of the Rotational Doppler Effect With Structured Beams in Atomic Vapor

A vector beam with the spatial variation polarization has attracted keen interest and is progressively applied in quantum information, quantum communication, precision measurement, and so on. In this letter, the spectrum observation of the rotational Doppler effect based on the coherent interaction between atoms and structured light in an atomic vapor is realized. The geometric phase and polarization of the structured beam are generated and manipulated by using a flexible and efficacious combination optical elements, converting an initial linearly polarized Gaussian beam into a phase vortex beam or an asymmetric or symmetric vector beam. These three representative types of structured beam independently interact with atoms under a longitudinal magnetic field to explore the rotational Doppler shift associated with the topological charge. We find that the rotational Doppler broadening increases obviously with the topological charge of the asymmetric and symmetric vector beam. There is no rotational Doppler broadening observed from the spectrum of the phase vortex beam, although the topological charge, and spatial profile of the beam change. This study can be applied to estimate the rotational velocity of the atom-level or molecule-level objects, measure the intensity of magnetic fields and study the quantum coherence in atomic ensembles.

Neural-network based approach to optimize THz computer generated holograms

Terahertz (THz) optics often encounters the problem of small f number values (elements have relatively small diameters comparing to focal lengths). The need to redirect the THz beam out of the optical axis or form particular intensity distributions resulted in the application of iterative holographic methods to design THz diffractive elements. Elements working on-axis do not encounter significant improvement while using iterative holographic methods, however, for more complicated distributions the difference becomes meaningful. Here, we propose a totally different approach to design THz holograms, utilizing a neural network based algorithm, suitable also for complicated distributions. Full Text: PDF ReferencesY. Tao, A. Fitzgerald and V. Wallace, "Non-Contact, Non-Destructive Testing in Various Industrial Sectors with Terahertz Technology", Sensors, 20(3), 712 (2020). CrossRef J. O'Hara, S. Ekin, W. Choi and I. Song, "A Perspective on Terahertz Next-Generation Wireless Communications", Technologies, 7(2), 43 (2019). CrossRef L. Yu et al., "The medical application of terahertz technology in non-invasive detection of cells and tissues: opportunities and challenges", RSC Advances, 9(17), 9354 (2019). CrossRef A. Siemion, "The Magic of Optics—An Overview of Recent Advanced Terahertz Diffractive Optical Elements", Sensors, 21(1), 100 (2020). CrossRef A. Siemion, "Terahertz Diffractive Optics—Smart Control over Radiation", J. Infrared Millim. Terahertz Waves, 40(5), 477 (2019). CrossRef M. Surma, I. Ducin, P. Zagrajek and A. Siemion, "Sub-Terahertz Computer Generated Hologram with Two Image Planes", Appl. Sci., 9(4), 659 (2019). CrossRef S. Banerji and B.Sensale-Rodriguez, "A Computational Design Framework for Efficient, Fabrication Error-Tolerant, Planar THz Diffractive Optical Elements", Sci. Rep., 9(1), 5801 (2019). CrossRef J. Sun and F. Hu, "Three-dimensional printing technologies for terahertz applications: A review", Int. J. RF. Microw. C. E., 30(1) (2020). CrossRef E. Castro-Camus, M. Koch and A. I. Hernandez-Serrano, "Additive manufacture of photonic components for the terahertz band", J. Appl. Phys., 127(21), 210901 (2020). CrossRef https://community.wolfram.com/groups/-/m/t/2028026?p_%20479%20p_auth=blBtLb5d DirectLink P. Komorowski, et al., "Three-focal-spot terahertz diffractive optical element-iterative design and neural network approach", Opt. Express, 29(7), 11243-11253 (2021) CrossRef M. Sypek, "Light propagation in the Fresnel region. New numerical approach", Opt. Commun., 116(1-3), 43 (1995). CrossRef

Superconducting NbN thin films on various (X/Y/Z-cut) lithium niobate substrates

Lithium niobate (LN) exhibits outstanding properties in various application of photonics, electronics, and optoelectronics, showing potentials in integration. Due to the directional dependence of LN tensor properties, optical elements made up by LN favor the type of LN substrate. To introduce high-performance superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors to LN-integrated photonics chips, superconducting NbN thin films with thicknesses from 3 to 50 nm were deposited on X-cut, Y-cut, and Z-cut LN substrates using magnetron sputtering at room temperature. The different thickness dependencies of Tc, δTc, and residual resistance ratios are observed in NbN thin films on different LN substrates. NbN thin films on X-cut and Y-cut LN substrates are polycrystalline with a transition temperature (Tc) of ~6 K for a 6-nm-thick film. While NbN thin films are epitaxially textured on Z-cut LN substrates with Tc of 11.5 K for a 6-nm-thick film. NbN-SNSPD on X-cut LN substrates shows a weak saturation trend of its system detection efficiency; however, the performance of NbN-SNSPD on Z-cut LN substrates is limited. We evaluated the selection of cuts and concluded that X-cut and Y-cut LN are more suitable to be a platform of integrated LN photonic chips from the aspect of NbN-SNSPD. This study helps fabricate high-performance SNSPDs on fully integrated photonics chips on LN substrates.

Thermal Fringe Formation During a Hologram Recording Using a Dry Photopolymer

In this study we investigated the undesired but possible fringe formation during the recording of large size holographic optical elements (HOE) using a dry photopolymer. We identified the deformation of the recording element during hologram exposure as the main source for this fringe formation. This deformation is caused mainly by the one-sided heating of the recording element, namely, the dry photopolymer–recording plate stack. It turned out that the main source for this heating was the heat of polymerization in the dry photopolymer released during the exposure interval. These insights were translated into a physical model with which quantitative predictions about thermal fringe formation can be made depending on the actual HOE recording geometry, recording conditions and characteristics of the dry photopolymer. Using this model, different types of large size HOEs, used as components to generate a steerable confined view box for a 23” diagonal size display demonstrator, could be recorded successfully without thermal fringe formation. Key strategies to avoid thermal fringe formation deduced from this model include balancing the ratio of lateral recording plate dimension R to its thickness h, recording the power density P or equivalently the exposure time texp at a fixed recording dosage E, and most importantly recording the the linear coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the recording plate material. Suitable glass plates with extremely low CTE were identified and used for recording of the above-mentioned HOEs.

Holographic Optical Lenses Recorded on a Glassy Matrix-Based Photopolymer for Solar Concentrators

Global warming is a very topical issue, therefore the search for new renewable energy sources is considered of fundamental importance. Among these, solar energy offers great possibilities considering that the amount of sunlight hitting the Earth ‘s surface in an hour and a half is enough to meet the world’s electricity consumption for a complete year. Generally, solar concentrators are used to collect the solar radiation and to concentrate it at a single focal point. These devices consist in a set of mirrors or mechanical structures to reduce the area of a photovoltaic cell, which is typically very expensive. Volume transmission phase holographic optical elements could be opportunely designed and realized to obtain a simple, lightweight, compact and inexpensive planar solar concentrator. With the aim of bringing scientific attention to this still developing topic, in this work we critically report a complete investigation on a new photopolymeric material obtained by sol-gel reactions used as possible recording material for volume holographic solar concentrators; as a proof of concept, both terrestrial and extreme environments, such as space, are considered as potential applications.